Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Risk of rehospitalization in younger women after heart attack nearly double that of men

A study supported by the National Institutes of Health found that younger women are nearly twice as likely to be rehospitalized after a heart attack as men. The disparity is largely due to higher rates of risk factors such as obesity and depression among women, which contribute to more adverse outcomes.

SourceNIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateMay 1, 2023

Communication may guide family members’ decisions after sudden cardiac death

A new study finds that clear and accurate information about the cause of death, provided in multiple formats, can influence family members' decisions to seek follow-up screening for inherited heart conditions. The study suggests that communication from death investigators and health care professionals is crucial in addressing families'...

SourceAmerican Heart Association·JournalCirculation Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes·DateApr 4, 2023

A video-based decision support tool may aid decision-making for Black individuals considering ICD implantation

A randomized clinical trial found that a video-based decision support tool increased patient knowledge, but not assent, to ICD implantation among Black patients. The study also highlighted the complexity of aversion to cardiac procedures in Black communities, emphasizing the need for further research on social determinants of health.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 3, 2023

Researchers uncover how gene that increases risk of genetic heart disease works, paving way for new treatments

A recent study led by Murdoch Children's Research Institute has revealed a new pathway for how genetic mutations impact heart muscle function. The research identifies the gene ALPK3 as a key player in cardiomyopathy, a group of diseases affecting the heart's ability to pump blood, and provides hope for new targeted therapies.

SourceMurdoch Childrens Research Institute·JournalNature Cardiovascular Research·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 1, 2023

Cocaethylene cardiotoxicity in emergency department patients with acute drug overdose

A recent study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that combining cocaine with ethanol increases the risk of cardiac arrest, higher lactate concentrations, and lower occurrence of myocardial injury. The study suggests that cocaethylene, a metabolite of cocaine and ethanol, is more toxic than either substance alone.

SourceSociety for Academic Emergency Medicine·JournalAcademic Emergency Medicine·DateMar 1, 2023

Cleveland Clinic study finds common artificial sweetener linked to higher rates of heart attack and stroke

A new study by the Cleveland Clinic found that high levels of erythritol, a popular artificial sweetener, are associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Researchers studied over 4,000 people and found those with higher blood erythritol levels were at elevated risk of experiencing a major adverse cardiac event.

SourceCleveland Clinic·JournalNature Medicine·DateFeb 27, 2023

AI supports doctors’ hard decisions on cardiac arrest

Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have developed three AI-based decision support systems for cardiac arrest care, which can help doctors identify key factors affecting patient outcomes. The tools are based on large datasets and provide accuracy rates of up to 95% in predicting patient survival or death.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalEBioMedicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 13, 2023

Heart attack on a chip

Researchers at USC developed a 'heart attack on a chip' device to study heart attacks and test new personalized medicines. The device replicates the effects of an oxygen gradient on cardiac tissue function, shedding light on the mysteries of heart cell communication and change after a heart attack.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 7, 2022

CPR mannikins used in instructive social media posts lack diversity, influencing patient outcomes and disparities in training and care

A study found that CPR mannikins depicted in public social media accounts are predominantly white, lean men, lacking representation of diverse groups. The lack of diversity in these models may influence disparities in training and care for patients experiencing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

SourceElsevier·JournalCanadian Journal of Cardiology·TypeObservational study·DateNov 21, 2022

Are covid ‘comas’ signs of a protective hibernation state?

Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute suggest that Covid-19 patients in comas may enter a protective hibernation state to shield cells from oxygen scarcity. This hypothesis is supported by observations of cardiac arrest patients treated with hypothermia and the painted turtle, which also enters a similar state during prolonged anoxia.

SourcePicower Institute at MIT·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeLiterature review·DateNov 7, 2022

After cardiac arrest, does sedation improve the chance of surviving and regaining normal brain function?

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital found that sedating patients after cardiac arrest can improve their chances of survival and regaining normal brain function. The study, conducted in mice, showed that sedatives like propofol and dexmedetomidine improved survival rates compared to those who received no sedation.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalAnesthesiology·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 18, 2022

Traditoinal medicine could give new hope to heart patients

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have identified a new mechanism in ARVC that could lead to a potential treatment strategy. They found that activating sirtuin-3 can slow down disease progression, and honokiol, a natural product extracted from the tulip tree, has been shown to work similarly.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences·JournalCirculation·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 19, 2022

Cardiac arrest survival rate rising

The study found that the probability of surviving cardiac arrest outside hospital has more than doubled in 30 years, from approximately 5% to 11%. The improvement is attributed to increased CPR training and better healthcare resources. However, ambulance delays and an increase in difficult-to-treat cases are hindering further progress.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalEuropean Heart Journal·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 26, 2022

COVID-19 may have increased UK doctors’ willingness to not resuscitate the very sick/frail

A survey of UK doctors found that the pandemic has led to an increase in willingness to forgo life-saving treatments for very sick patients, while views on euthanasia and assisted dying have remained unchanged. The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed end-of-life care, prompting a reevaluation of clinicians' decision-making processes.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalJournal of Medical Ethics·TypeObservational study·DateJul 25, 2022

Predicting sudden cardiac arrest

Cedars-Sinai researchers created a clinical risk assessment algorithm that identifies patients at highest risk of treatable sudden cardiac arrest. The algorithm, based on 13 clinical, electrocardiogram, and echocardiographic variables, has the potential to enhance prevention and treatment options for this fatal condition.

SourceCedars-Sinai Medical Center·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateMar 30, 2022

Critical and underutilized: Fire and police responders associated with higher cardiac arrest survival rates

A new study found that non-medical first responders, such as police and fire departments, are associated with higher cardiac arrest survival rates. They initiated CPR in 31.8% of incidents and AED use in 6.1% of cases, leading to significantly improved chances of survival and hospital discharge.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalResuscitation·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 29, 2022

Survivors of heart attack plus cardiac arrest at increased risk of early death

Research by Imperial College London reveals that patients who experience both a heart attack and sudden cardiac arrest are more likely to develop abnormal heart rhythms and die within three years. The study found that these patients were over twice as likely to have subsequent ventricular arrhythmia and 36% more likely to die.

SourceImperial College London·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·DateMar 7, 2022

New survey uncovers successes and gaps in COVID-19 guidance to EMS first responders

A nationwide survey of COVID-19 guidance for emergency medical services (EMS) reveals that nearly half of states lack online access to protocols, leaving frontline workers vulnerable. The study highlights the need for standardized guidance and improved resource allocation to mitigate the impact of future pandemics.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalJournal of the American College of Emergency Physicians·TypeSurvey·DateMar 1, 2022

Women who suffer from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest are less likely to receive CPR from a bystander

A study of over 56,000 cases across nine Asian communities found that women were less likely than men to receive lifesaving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from a bystander in public locations. In contrast, when cardiac arrests occur at home or in private places, the chances of receiving layperson bystander CPR increased considerab...

SourceDuke-NUS Medical School·JournalEClinicalMedicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 21, 2022

‘Super trees’ may help save Houston … and beyond

A new study ranks live oaks and American sycamores as champions among 17 "super trees" that can mitigate air pollution and climate change in urban areas. The research provides a three-part framework for selecting suitable trees, identifying high-impact planting sites, and engaging with community leadership to make the project a reality.

SourceRice University·JournalPlants People Planet·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 9, 2021

CHOP researchers find bystander CPR with rescue breathing leads to better outcomes in pediatric cardiac arrest

A new study by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia finds that bystander CPR using only chest compression has similar outcomes to not using CPR at all for infants experiencing cardiac arrest. In contrast, children who received CPR with rescue breathing had nearly 1.5 times better neurological outcomes.

SourceChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateAug 30, 2021

Trial does not support early coronary angiography in cardiac arrest without ST elevation

The study found that immediate coronary angiography in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients without ST-segment elevation is not superior to a delayed/selective approach. The composite secondary endpoint of all-cause death or severe neurological deficit at 30 days occurred more frequently in the immediate angiography group.

SourceEuropean Society of Cardiology·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateAug 30, 2021