Research on diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Covers microvascular imaging, light exposure, cardiac imaging anxiety, and sex differences in risk.
The Eastern Healthy diet, derived from China's coastal food culture, is associated with lower obesity, hypertension, and mortality risks. Adults scoring 5.5–10 on the 10-point diet score had 24% lower odds of obesity and 21% lower odds of hypertension compared to those scoring 0–3.5.
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has launched ADVANCE-ASCVD to address persistent gaps in knowledge about cardiovascular disease prevention and implementation in clinical practice. The initiative aims to improve how cardiovascular risk is identified and managed across diverse populations and care settings.
Researchers at Penn State will test whether a remote program focused on gardening, cooking, nutrition education, and peer support can help adults build healthier habits and influence their children's health. The program aims to combine enjoyment and intrinsic motivation for sustained behavior change.
According to a new American Heart Association scientific statement, fewer than 5% of US military veterans may achieve optimal cardiovascular health. The statement highlights military veteran-specific risks and strategies to improve cardiovascular health and longevity. Practical opportunities to improve lifestyle behaviors, cardiometabo...
The ACC's Young Scholars Program aims to inspire the next generation of cardiovascular leaders by providing educational opportunities, mentorship, and community connections. The program, which began in 2019, has already reached over 600 students across the US.
Scientists have developed a treatment that 'reawakens' heart muscle cells, promoting repair and improving heart function after a heart attack. The treatment, using mRNA therapy, temporarily activates proteins that help regenerate heart tissue, leading to a stronger heartbeat and increased blood pump efficiency.
A phase 2b clinical trial led by Mass General Brigham researchers shows that MAR001 can significantly reduce triglyceride levels within 12 weeks for patients with high triglyceride levels. The therapy targets ANGPTL4, a protein that naturally inhibits lipoprotein lipase, an enzyme that breaks down triglycerides.
Five new research hubs will develop tools to detect early signs of illness, such as dementia and traumatic brain injuries, and prevent them. The hubs will bring together experts from across the UK to create innovative solutions, including AI-powered brain health clinics and computer models to predict brain injury risk.
A global switch to potassium-enriched salt could prevent nearly three million deaths and ten million new cases of cardiovascular and kidney disease each year. Potassium-enriched salt, which replaces some sodium chloride with potassium chloride, addresses both high blood pressure and sodium intake issues.
Research from Karolinska Institutet found that people with type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or stroke who sleep well perform better on cognitive tests and have larger brain volumes than those who sleep poorly. This study suggests that healthy sleep may help mitigate the negative effects of cardiometabolic disease on brain health.
Dr. Cheryl Anderson will receive the 2026 Chairman’s Award for her outstanding contributions to public health and nutrition research, leadership, and community engagement. Her work has deepened understanding of cardiovascular disease and shaped behavioral strategies and public health guidance worldwide.
Dr. Bruce Ovbiagele, a leading neurologist and academic mentor, has been recognized with the 2026 Eugene Braunwald Academic Mentorship Award. He is being honored for his sustained record of excellence in teaching and mentoring the next generation of faculty researchers, educators, and healthcare professionals.
The annual number of TAVR procedures among patients younger than 70 rose from 15 in 2014 to 134 in 2024, with surgical aortic valve replacement remaining the predominant approach. TAVR was particularly popular among patients aged 60 to 69, with lower rates of acute kidney injury and bleeding compared to SAVR.
A new study found that cannabis use, including marijuana, is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, particularly strokes. The study analyzed pooled data from almost half a million adults in the US and found that both low-use and heavy-use groups had higher odds of developing heart disease.
Researchers used portable cuff-based blood pressure monitors and wrist-worn fitness trackers to analyze patterns in blood pressure and cardiovascular signals. They found that AI analysis may predict high blood pressure crises days before they occur, providing an opportunity for earlier care and reducing serious complications.
A survey of 97 US health clinics found that most conduct basic screening for CKM syndrome, but far fewer use guideline-recommended tools like CKM staging framework and PREVENT equations. The study highlights opportunities to improve patient care by better incorporating these tools into clinical practices.
The aorta is not a biologically uniform structure, with different regions influenced by immune cells that contribute to development, maintenance, and disease. Myeloid immune cells vary across regions, with some supporting repair and others contributing to inflammation and tissue remodeling.
A new research project aims to identify rising cardiac arrest risk before it happens using artificial intelligence and multiple types of health data. The system will combine symptoms, activity tracker data, medical history, and blood tests to provide real-time risk updates.
A study found that regular tea consumption was linked with an 11% lower risk of cardiovascular disease, with the lowest risk estimated at approximately 6–8 cups per day among weekly drinkers. Black tea showed more consistent inverse associations with vascular disease than green tea.
Gene therapies can already change clinical care, but their use in common conditions raises concerns about permanent harm and competition with existing treatments. Cardiologists propose strategies for determining when genomic therapy is justified, including considering the benefits, risks, and long-term safety monitoring.
A new American College of Cardiology Scientific Statement recommends prescribing exercise that is safe, achievable and sustainable over time to treat and prevent heart disease. Regular physical activity improves exercise capacity, reduces hospitalization and enhances quality of life, with small increases producing meaningful benefits.
Researchers discovered that losartan, a commonly prescribed blood-pressure drug, stimulates brown adipose tissue activity in mice, enhancing their metabolism. This finding suggests that repurposing losartan may be a clinically viable method of stimulating brown fat, which has been linked to improved cardiovascular health and, for the f...
Bruce Arians, a renowned coach and mentor, has been selected for the 2027 Paul 'Bear' Bryant Heart of a Champion Award. The American Heart Association honors his exceptional contributions to college football and the community, recognizing his resilience and commitment to helping others.
The American Heart Association has selected 5 finalists for its 2026 Health Tech Competition to advance solutions for heart and brain health. The finalists will present their market-ready technologies at Scientific Sessions 2026 in Chicago, with a focus on improving cardiovascular and brain health outcomes.
A study found that long-term use of anabolic-androgenic steroids causes sustained thickening of the heart's left ventricular wall and impaired contractions. Stopping anabolic steroids completely can reverse these effects, with 15 participants showing a significant reduction in heart muscle thickness and improved cardiac function.
A study by York University researchers found that despite rising CVD cases, cardiac rehab programs have stagnated globally, creating inequities and barriers to care. Hybrid and alternative models are more accessible but often underfunded, leading to unequal access to life-saving services.
Despite overall declines in US cardiovascular disease mortality, racial, ethnic, and place-based disparities persist, with significant gaps in mortality rates across counties and states. The analysis highlights the need for targeted clinical and public health practices to address these disparities and promote heart health equity.
Researchers found that well-designed digital alerts can assist clinicians in high-pressure situations, prompting them to make recommended treatment decisions and recognize when patients are deteriorating. The studies demonstrated the effectiveness of electronic health record alerts in the emergency department and cardiac intensive care...
Dr. Emily Lau's research found that maternal cardiovascular disease and pregnancy-related cardiovascular complications increased over nearly two decades, with higher rates among non-Hispanic Black women. The study emphasizes the need to make cardiovascular health a routine part of care before, during, and after pregnancy to address dis...
This section will publish peer-reviewed research on the clinical value of AI in cardiovascular medicine, including evidence of effectiveness and impact on access and equity. Submissions are invited on various topics, including clinical diagnosis, multimodal data integration, and implementation in real-world cardiovascular care.
A new review published in Science highlights the critical role of X and Y chromosomes in shaping human health and disease, influencing immunity, metabolism, brain aging, and disease progression. Understanding these mechanisms could lead to sex-aware medicine and tailored treatment strategies.
The American College of Cardiology emphasizes a plant-forward diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and healthy fats to prevent and manage cardiovascular disease. Consensus recommendations include a focus on overall dietary quality and sustainability over individual nutrients or trends.
Insilico Medicine nominates ISM1354, a novel small molecule GIPR antagonist, with robust weight-loss efficacy and improved pharmacokinetic and safety profiles. ISM1354 demonstrates a favorable safety profile, with minimal effects on cell viability and a lower potential hepatotoxicity risk.
Dr. Pradeep Natarajan's innovative research has transformed the understanding and prevention of cardiovascular disease by identifying genetic mechanisms and developing polygenic risk prediction tools. His work has also accelerated the development of novel therapeutic targets for cardiovascular disease.
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...
The review proposes a psycho-cardiovascular interaction network framework that links psychological and psychiatric factors with cardiovascular health and disease. It highlights six system-level mechanisms and five molecular pathways that influence the brain-heart axis.
MedAxiom has selected projects addressing real-world challenges in cardiovascular care, including value-based care and quality improvement. The selected abstracts will be presented at CV Transforum Fall’26, exploring practical approaches and results in care delivery and implementation science.
Dr. Jennifer Lawton, a renowned researcher, will receive the 2026 Basic Research Prize for her groundbreaking work on heart-brain protection during cardiac surgery. Her laboratory has advanced the understanding of adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels and the cardioprotective effects of diazoxide.
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.
A new American Heart Association scientific statement reveals that cardiovascular disease has surpassed cancer as the leading cause of death among Hispanic adults in the U.S. due to rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure. The statement highlights the need for culturally tailored prevention strategies, equitable acce...
A new study by Michigan Medicine found that heart surgery infection rates vary significantly across U.S. hospitals, with some experiencing nearly double the risk of others. By reducing infections, hospitals could prevent 2,600 infections and reduce Medicare spending by $441 million annually.
The study demonstrates the FIND Lp(a) model's ability to identify individuals with high Lp(a) more than twice as likely as the overall population with ASCVD. The model supports targeted Lp(a) screening, accelerating universal screening adoption and enhancing cardiovascular risk management.
Researchers have identified early signs of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic disease (CKMD) in children as young as 8 years old that can be reversed with a new class of weight loss drugs. The study found that levels of certain disease-associated proteins in children decline in response to therapy with semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonis...
A new platform enables non-invasive tracking of early microvascular disease changes using ultrasound localization microscopy. The U-VBA framework standardizes analysis of tiny blood vessels, capturing structural and hemodynamic properties, and shows high reproducibility and accuracy in classification of cervical lymph-node conditions.
Research of over 11,000 people found that high nighttime light exposure is associated with thickening of the heart's left ventricle and reduced flexibility during heartbeats. The study suggests that reducing nighttime light exposure could be a strategy for preventing heart disease.
A study found that 95% of patients who used virtual reality during cardiac imaging completed the procedure, with 80% wearing the headset for the entire duration. The VR program also demonstrated significant financial impact, with estimated cost savings of $3,000 per aborted imaging study.
A new ERC-funded project at Aarhus University aims to investigate how hormones, stress, and genetic factors influence women's coronary arteries. The project will develop new models to explain why certain cardiovascular diseases affect women differently from men, and may lead to personalized rupture-risk maps and improved diagnosis and ...
Research suggests that mental health conditions, including PTSD, substance abuse, and depression, can increase the risk of future cardiovascular risks such as heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular death. Alcohol abuse was found to be the top psychiatric predictor of serious heart and brain conditions for both men and women.
A new study found that men with nonmetastatic prostate cancer who replaced saturated and animal fats with unsaturated and plant-based fats had a lower risk of death. Replacing about 10% of daily calories from animal fat with plant-based fat was associated with a 16% lower rate of death.
Researchers found that meal timing programs the liver's daily rhythms and can have serious metabolic and health consequences when out of sync. The liver uses food signals to activate metabolic pathways, which can conflict with the body's natural circadian clock, leading to health issues.
Scientists at Scripps Research developed an AI model called ECG-CLIP that improves heart disease detection and prediction with less labeled data. The model outperforms existing tools in various clinical tasks, including disease detection, prediction, and adverse health outcomes, with better performance in settings with limited data.
Researchers have developed a biomarker score called BioTAK to identify broken-heart syndrome, which affects postmenopausal women and is triggered by emotional or physical stress. The score uses blood biomarkers to distinguish the condition from a heart attack, providing new insights into disease mechanisms.
The CorCal Outcomes trial found no difference in major cardiovascular events when statin initiation was based on coronary artery calcium compared to traditional risk factor assessment. Patients recommended statins based on CAC scores were more adherent with their medication.
A short mitochondrial protein, STMP1, helps maintain the heart's energy-producing structures and protects against inflammation and failure. Researchers found that restoring STMP1 or blocking inflammation can significantly protect heart function.
A nationwide study found that early initiation of statins after type 2 diabetes diagnosis was associated with a 15% lower relative risk of dementia over 10 years. Statin treatment was also linked to a 10% lower risk of dementia in patients who initiated treatment between one and five years after diagnosis.
The SWITCH SWEDEHEART trial found prasugrel comparable to ticagrelor for major cardiovascular events, but with lower major bleeding risk. Prasugrel reduced major bleeding by 4.2% compared to ticagrelor.
Pacibekitug, a long-acting monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-6, produced sustained reductions in inflammatory markers in patients with chronic kidney disease. The treatment also showed dose-dependent effects on other inflammatory markers, such as fibrinogen and lipoprotein(a).
The new guidelines aim to increase kidney function and urine albumin testing in patients with CVD, identifying at-risk patients and prescribing targeted treatments. Early use of RAS inhibitors and SGLT2 inhibitors, alongside statin-based therapy, is particularly important in slowing CKD progression and reducing cardiovascular events.
Dr. Sebastian Spethmann joins JMIR Cardio as Editor-in-Chief, bringing expertise in heart failure, cardiomyopathies, and digital health. He aims to integrate digital advancements into routine clinical care, enhancing cardiovascular health systems and patient outcomes.
A meta-analysis of 91,339 trial participants found that patients with higher adherence to antihypertensive medication experienced significant reductions in systolic blood pressure and major cardiovascular disease events. In contrast, patients with lower adherence showed little to no cardiovascular benefit