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First clinical classification of heart attacks based on tissue damage adopted by Canadian Cardiovascular Society

The Canadian Cardiovascular Society has adopted a new classification system for heart attacks based on the extent of tissue damage, which aims to improve patient outcomes by guiding treatment and predicting disease progression. The four-stage classification outlines varying levels of injury following a heart attack.

SourceIndiana University·JournalCanadian Journal of Cardiology·DateOct 30, 2023

Cause of sleep disturbance in cardiac disease identified: Ganglia play previously unrecognized role

A study published in Science reveals that ganglia in the neck region are responsible for disrupting melatonin production and causing sleep disturbances in people with heart conditions. Researchers found that macrophages accumulate in the ganglion, leading to inflammation and scarring, which can be treated with drugs.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 20, 2023

Asymptomatic, CT angiography-detected coronary artery disease associated with 8-fold increased risk for heart attack

A cohort study of over 9,000 persons found that asymptomatic middle-aged individuals with subclinical coronary atherosclerosis are at an 8-fold increased risk for myocardial infarction. The study highlights the importance of identifying and addressing obstructive coronary artery disease in patients without known cardiovascular disease.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateMar 27, 2023

Family Heart Foundation research finds high-risk Americans who do not maintain guideline recommend LDL-C targets have 44% higher rate of cardiovascular events

A real-world analysis found that high-risk Americans who fail to reach guideline-recommended LDL-C levels experience a 44% higher rate of cardiovascular events. The study, presented at the AMCP Conference, used data from over 300 million Americans and compared those who met and maintained recommended targets with those who did not.

PRESS RELEASE: Elevated plasma methylmalonic acid is related to increased cardiovascular events

A recent study from the University of Bergen found that elevated plasma methylmalonic acid is associated with an increased risk of acute myocardial infarction and mortality in patients with suspected or verified coronary heart disease. Higher plasma MMA levels were linked to reduced renal function and low vitamin B12 status, but also p...

SourceThe University of Bergen·JournalJournal of Internal Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 3, 2023

Care gap: Hospital readmission rate for younger women is higher than for younger men after a heart attack

A new study found that younger women hospitalized with heart attacks had a significantly higher prevalence of cardiac risk factors and comorbidities compared to younger men. This led to higher rehospitalization rates and all-cause readmission rates, emphasizing the need for ongoing efforts to improve prevention strategies.

SourceElsevier·JournalCanadian Journal of Cardiology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 5, 2022

Singapore scientists find cold spells in the tropics increase heart attack risk

A study by Duke-NUS Medical School and collaborators found that cooler ambient temperatures increased the risk of a specific type of myocardial infarction (heart attack) in Singapore. People aged 65 and above were particularly vulnerable to this risk, with a 20% higher risk compared to younger individuals.

SourceDuke-NUS Medical School·JournalScience of The Total Environment·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 2, 2022

“Polypill” reduces cardiovascular mortality by 33% in patients treated after a heart attack

The SECURE trial found that the polypill, containing aspirin, ramipril, and atorvastatin, achieves clinically relevant reductions in recurrent cardiovascular events among patients recovering from a heart attack. This simplified approach improves treatment adherence, leading to a 33% reduction in cardiovascular mortality.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateAug 26, 2022

The recovery process after a heart attack

A recent study published in Molecular Therapy Nucleic Acids found that the molecule urocortin-2 may regulate recovery processes after a heart attack by modulating miR-29a. Treatment with urocortin-2 could favor patient recovery by regulating apoptosis and fibrosis.

SourceUniversity of Seville·JournalMolecular Therapy — Nucleic Acids·DateApr 5, 2022

Keep taking the tablets - ‘big data’ provides clues on how to help prevent repeat heart attacks

Research found that individuals who have previously taken cholesterol- or blood pressure-lowering medications before a heart attack were less likely to adhere to these medications afterwards. Despite the proven benefits, fewer than one-third of patients continued taking their prescribed tablets for over a year after hospitalization.

SourceGeorge Institute for Global Health·JournalFrontiers in Pharmacology·TypeObservational study·DateMar 7, 2022

Activated protein C can protect against age-related cardiac ischemia and reperfusion injury, preclinical study finds

A new study from USF Health reveals that activated protein C may help improve aging patients' tolerance to reperfusion injury, a potentially adverse effect of treatment for ischemic heart disease. The researchers suggest that drugs derived from APC may limit ischemia and reperfusion-induced heart damage.

SourceUniversity of South Florida (USF Health)·JournalCirculation Research·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 31, 2022

Model suggests extending annual mammography screening past age 75 may be cost-effective for some healthy older women

A modeling study found that annual mammography screening beyond age 75 may provide little to no benefit in terms of lives saved, while increasing costs and potential harms from overdiagnosis. Biennial screening up to age 80 is more cost-effective but yields a small number of deaths averted.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 22, 2021

Eight predictors of upper gastrointestinal bleeding after heart attack

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have identified eight primary factors that increase the risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding after heart attack. The study, published in European Heart Journal - Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy, found that smoking, blood pressure, and blood glucose are among the new predictors.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalEuropean Heart Journal - Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy·TypeObservational study·DateAug 23, 2021

Culprit vessel-only strategy has lower mortality rates compared to routine MVI

A contemporary real-world analysis of culprit vessel-only intervention (CVI) versus multivessel intervention (MVI) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and cardiogenic shock (CS) found lower mortality rates for CVI. The study, presented at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions 2018 Scientific Sessio...

SourceSociety for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions·JournalCatheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions·DateApr 27, 2018

First Nations people less likely to receive coronary angiography after heart attack

A new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that First Nations people are less likely to receive guideline-recommended coronary angiography after a heart attack. This disparity results in poorer long-term survival rates for this population, highlighting the need for improved access to cardiovascular care.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateMay 20, 2014

Strategy appears to help rule-in, rule-out heart attack within 1 hour

A new algorithm using high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T values can quickly classify patients as either likely to have a heart attack or not, reducing the need for prolonged monitoring. The strategy has been shown to be safe and accurate, ruling-out or ruling-in heart attacks within one hour in 77% of patients with acute chest pain.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of Internal Medicine·DateAug 13, 2012

AMI: The scale of the problem

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a leading cause of death in the Western world, with prevalence expected to rise in developing countries. Primary PCI can open more vessels than thrombolytic therapy, saving more lives but requiring specialized facilities and collaboration.

Results from the TRIANA trial

The TRIANA trial found primary angioplasty superior to thrombolysis in treating acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in patients aged 75 or older. Primary angioplasty showed a significantly lower need for recurrent cardiac ischemia and comparable outcomes compared to thrombolysis.