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New $3.1M NIH grant for University of Houston to study how ‘spongy heart’ disease develops — and whether it can be stopped

University of Houston researcher Mingfu Wu has received a $3.1 million NIH grant to investigate left ventricular noncompaction, a serious heart condition that can lead to heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms. The study aims to uncover a common mechanism behind different genetic causes of LVNC and potentially identify new targets fo...

Drones could speed up delivery of automated external defibrillators to patients suffering cardiac arrest

A new study found that drones can significantly reduce the time between cardiac arrest reporting and defibrillation, particularly in rural and congested areas. By combining fixed AEDs with drones, access times can be reduced by up to 3.76 minutes, with over 95% of cases covered within five minutes.

SourceEuropean Society for Emergency Medicine (EUSEM)·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 25, 2026

Cardiac rehabilitation cuts hospital admissions and heart attack risk

Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation reduces hospital admissions by a third and heart attack risk by more than a quarter, with long-term benefits and cost-effectiveness. Digital programmes can be just as effective as traditional centre-based services, making rehabilitation more accessible.

SourceCochrane·JournalCochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·TypeSystematic review·DateSep 17, 2026

Taking the stairs could cut risk of early death

A meta-analysis of nearly 1,900 studies found that climbing stairs significantly reduces the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. Regular stair climbing was associated with lower risks of heart-related problems and major cardiovascular conditions such as heart attack, stroke, and heart failure.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalAmerican Journal of Cardiovascular Drugs·TypeMeta-analysis·DateAug 12, 2026

Patients who suffer heart attack have more micro and nanoplastic in their blood

Patients who suffered a serious heart attack had higher levels of micro and nanoplastics in their blood compared to those with chronic ischemic heart disease and normal coronary arteries. The study also revealed that people exposed to higher levels of air pollution and smokers had higher levels of microplastics in their blood.

SourceEuropean Society of Cardiology·JournalEuropean Heart Journal·TypeObservational study·DateJul 14, 2026

Sodium bicarbonate for in-hospital cardiac arrest

A new study published in JAMA found no significant difference between sodium bicarbonate and placebo in sustaining return of spontaneous circulation. The findings suggest that routine administration of sodium bicarbonate for patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest may not be necessary.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateJun 11, 2026

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival at nighttime

A nighttime response during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is associated with lower odds of sustained return of spontaneous circulation, neurologically favorable survival, and postresuscitation survival. Emergency care factors only account for a portion of the decreased survival rates at night.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateApr 29, 2026

University of Cincinnati works with local paramedics to advance sudden cardiac arrest research

A University of Cincinnati study proves the feasibility and scalability of collecting blood from patients in cardiac arrest during treatment. The approach, which involves paramedics delivering samples to a biorepository, showed significant variation among patients and underscores the need for further research.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalPrehospital Emergency Care·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 24, 2026

The wearable ring on your finger could help assess your cardiovascular health while you sleep

Researchers developed a method to estimate vascular age from consumer wearables' PPG signals, predicting accurate results with a mean error of six to seven years. The technique uses a deep learning model and may lead to earlier detection of cardiovascular risk and more effective preventive care.

FAU study links ultra-processed foods to greater heart attack, stroke risk

A study by Florida Atlantic University found that ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are associated with a 47% higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Researchers analyzed data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and found that those consuming high amounts of UPFs had a significant increase in heart attack and stroke ...

SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournalThe American Journal of Medicine·TypeMeta-analysis·DateFeb 5, 2026

Family Heart Foundation teams up with former NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck to launch “tackle cholesterol™: Get into the LDL Safe Zone®”

The Family Heart Foundation, led by Matt Hasselbeck, aims to educate Americans about the risks of high LDL cholesterol and its connection to early heart disease. The campaign promotes free at-home screenings and offers support for individuals to protect themselves and their families from cardiovascular disease.

Heart damage is common after an operation and often goes unnoticed, but patients who see a cardiologist may be less likely to die or suffer heart disease as a result

Researchers found that patients seen by cardiologists had lower mortality rates and fewer serious heart problems, including heart attack, sudden failure, or irregular heartbeat. The study suggests close teamwork between surgical and heart teams can improve outcomes after major surgery.

SourceEuropean Society of Cardiology·JournalEuropean Heart Journal·TypeObservational study·DateJan 29, 2026

Blood test reveals prognosis after cardiac arrest

A new blood biomarker, neurofilament light (NFL), has been shown to accurately predict the extent of brain damage after a cardiac arrest. This breakthrough discovery may transform care for patients in intensive care units, allowing for more informed decisions about their treatment.

SourceLund University·JournalThe Lancet Respiratory Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateDec 11, 2025

Experts call for AED placement on every commercial aircraft to boost in-flight cardiac arrest survival rates from 6% to up to 70%

In-flight cardiac arrest is a rare yet catastrophic event that claims up to 86% of air fatalities. Implementing automated external defibrillators (AEDs) on board could significantly boost survival rates from 6% to up to 70%. The authors recommend standardized CPR protocols training, telemedicine integration, and mandatory AED placement.

SourceElsevier·JournalCanadian Journal of Cardiology·TypeLiterature review·DateDec 3, 2025

Pollution and cardiac arrest: a study by the Politecnico di Milano reveals a direct link between peak air pollution and cardiac risk

Researchers found a strong association between nitrogen dioxide levels and increased risk of cardiac arrest, with a 7% rise for every 10 micrograms per cubic metre increase. The study highlights the importance of considering environmental data in health forecasting systems.

SourcePolitecnico di Milano·JournalGlobal Challenges·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 14, 2025

Common gout drug may reduce risk of heart attack and stroke

A Cochrane review found that low-dose colchicine reduced heart attacks and strokes in people with a history of heart disease or stroke. The study involved nearly 23,000 participants and showed that taking colchicine could prevent about two of each heart attack and stroke among those with cardiovascular disease.

SourceCochrane·JournalCochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·TypeSystematic review·DateNov 12, 2025

Chance to identify young people at risk of cardiac arrest

A nationwide Swedish study found that many young people who died from cardiac arrest had recently sought medical care and showed signs of heart problems. The study suggests that fainting, seizures, and abnormal ECG findings in young people should be taken more seriously to identify those at risk before a sudden arrhythmic death occurs.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalThe American Journal of Cardiology·TypeObservational study·DateNov 3, 2025

Not all heart attack patients receive the same type of care, researchers find

A new study found significant racial disparities in the care of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in Florida. Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black patients were less likely to receive percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), a recommended treatment, compared to non-Hispanic white patients. This disparity resulted in ...

SourcePenn State·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 19, 2025

Food for thought: Using food delivery services to provide rapid cardiac arrest response and potentially save lives

A simulation study suggests that deploying food delivery riders to deliver defibrillation can reduce automated external defibrillator response times by approximately three minutes, reducing patient waiting time for defibrillation. The approach offers a cost-effective and scalable strategy for improving cardiac arrest outcomes in high-d...

SourceElsevier·JournalCanadian Journal of Cardiology·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 28, 2025