Research on diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Covers microvascular imaging, light exposure, cardiac imaging anxiety, and sex differences in risk.
Sekar Kathiresan receives the 2018 Curt Stern Award for his groundbreaking work identifying genetic factors underlying cardiovascular disease risk. His research has led to the development of medicines that mimic protective mutations, reducing heart attack risk.
Researchers created a 3D map of enhancer-gene interactions that play a key role in cardiovascular disease. The map identifies the most important genes for developing new treatments for heart attacks, heart failure, and heart rhythm disorders.
The USPSTF concludes that current evidence is insufficient to make recommendations on screening for PAD and CVD risk with ABI in asymptomatic adults. Additionally, the task force finds that adding ABI, hsCRP level, and CAC score to traditional risk assessments does not prevent CVD events in asymptomatic adults.
A new study from the University of East Anglia found that exposure to greenspace reduces the risk of type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, premature death, preterm birth, stress, and high blood pressure. People living close to nature also experience reduced diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol levels.
Low-income families with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) experience high out-of-pocket healthcare costs, including insurance premiums and prescription medications. Researchers found nearly one in four low-income families face catastrophic financial burdens.
Adults with orthostatic hypotension may have undiagnosed cardiovascular disease, according to a new study. The research found that OH was associated with all measures of subclinical cardiovascular disease and predicted future clinical CVD events.
Researchers developed a non-invasive method to measure arterial stiffness and peripheral arterial tone in adolescents aged 16-19. The study found that aortic pulse wave velocity is highly reproducible but augmentation index shows poorer reproducibility, especially among those with higher fitness levels or lower body fat.
A high level of fitness in midlife is associated with a lower risk of depression after age 65 and a lower risk of cardiovascular death, including after a diagnosis of depression. Longitudinal studies can inform health care professionals about the importance of considering fitness as part of overall preventive care.
Researchers compared CF-PWV and CAVI to assess vascular ageing, finding CAVI provides additional information on vessel wall state. Metabolic syndrome was found to increase CF-PWV levels but not affect CAVI.
A study published in PLOS Medicine found that the average 10-year risk of developing cardiovascular disease varies widely among India's states, ranging from 13.2% to 19.5%. The researchers identified substantial variation in CVD risk both among states and across socio-demographic groups.
A study of 3000 people in South Australia and Brazil found that nearly 70% with heart conditions or risk factors do not follow recommended exercise plans. This under-reported issue affects long-term quality of life, despite advances in treatment.
The USPSTF recommends against adding ECG screening to standard risk assessment to prevent CVD events in asymptomatic adults at low risk. Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death among adults in the United States, but ECG screening has not been proven to reduce CVD events.
Cardiovascular expert Robert Myerburg argues that routine electrocardiogram (ECG) screening for asymptomatic adults may not be effective in improving health outcomes due to high false positive rates. For higher-risk patients, he advocates for focusing on treatable risk factors and individualized risk assessment.
A recent study found that feeling lonely is a stronger predictor of poor outcomes than living alone in patients with cardiovascular disease. The study revealed that loneliness was associated with doubled mortality risk in women and nearly doubled risk in men, as well as increased symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Studies show that mobile health technology can lower cardiovascular disease risk scores and improve individual components of the risk score, such as systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, and waist-to-hip ratio. However, more research is needed to fully understand its effectiveness in modifying objective measures of health.
Research from the University of Sydney found that walking at a brisk pace can reduce all-cause mortality by up to 24% and cardiovascular disease mortality by 21%, particularly among older adults. The study suggests that increasing walking speed may be a simple way to improve heart health and reduce premature mortality.
A novel scaffold enables programmed deformation of 2D cell-laden structure to 3D tubular shape, facilitating facile 3D endothelialization. The study offers a new method for creating tissue-engineered vascular grafts and a potential in vitro model for screening cardiovascular drugs.
Women with metabolically 'healthy' obesity still face a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, even if they are not experiencing other metabolic issues. A large cohort study found that this group has a 39% increased risk of cardiovascular events compared to normal weight women without metabolic abnormalities.
A new review published in Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases found that plant-based diets can prevent and reverse atherosclerosis, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease by 40%. Plant-based diets are rich in fiber and phytonutrients, which reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, while animal products are high in saturated fat a...
A study of over 2,800 postmenopausal women found that a higher proportion of male to female sex hormones was associated with a significant increase in cardiovascular disease risk. The researchers suggest that having a more male-like hormone profile may affect heart disease risk independent of other risk factors.
Research reveals that homeless individuals are at a high risk of developing cardiovascular disease due to lack of access to healthcare and long-term management. This population faces unique challenges such as untreated hypertension and diabetes, smoking addiction, and chronic mental illness.
A higher testosterone to estradiol ratio is associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, and heart failure. Higher total testosterone levels are linked to an increased risk of coronary heart disease and total cardiovascular disease.
Current research does not support the use of vitamin or mineral supplements in preventing or treating heart disease. However, naturally derived nutrients from plant-based foods can help cut heart disease risk. Folic acid supplements have shown a reduction in stroke risk.
Patients with severe eczema have a 20% increased risk of stroke and a 70% increased risk of heart failure compared to those without eczema. The absolute risk is low, but targeted screening and primary prevention strategies could be needed for these patients.
A recent study found that daily egg consumption is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and specific types of stroke. The research, conducted in China, involved over half a million adults aged 30 to 79 and followed them for an average of 8.9 years.
Regular commuters with active travel patterns have a 30% lower risk of fatal cardiovascular disease, while those who combined active commute and non-commute travel had an even lower risk. More active patterns of travel were also associated with an 8% lower risk of all-cause mortality.
A large study found that even small reductions in heart disease risk factors can help reduce frailty and dementia in older adults. Near-ideal cardiovascular risk profiles were associated with better outcomes on multiple factors, including chronic pain, falls, fractures, and dementia.
Researchers discuss traditional Chinese medicine approaches for cardiovascular disease, including acupuncture, moxibustion, Qigong, and Tai Chi. They highlight the need for modern TCM research into active ingredients and their applications.
Researchers at UTA are investigating the biochemical mechanism of ovarian hormones regulating cholesterol balance in the blood, aiming to open up new therapeutic avenues for treating cardiovascular disease. The study may lead to preventive treatments and customized therapies.
Researchers used whole-body magnetic resonance angiography to detect early atherosclerotic disease in asymptomatic individuals, finding nearly half had at least one narrowed artery. The study suggests the technique's potential for stratifying individuals with disease burden and informing preventative therapy.
Researchers discovered naturally occurring hormones 'notum' and 'lipocalin-5' that accelerate fat burning and protect against Type 2 diabetes. Lipocalin-5 also enhances muscle's ability to metabolize nutrients, reducing obesity and diabetes risk. The findings could lead to new drugs for halting obesity and heart disease.
A new study found that nearly half of people with metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) developed metabolic syndrome within 10 years, increasing their risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. MHO is defined as a body mass index of more than 30 and two or fewer risk factors.
Research found a link between poorer health-related quality of life in adolescence and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Adolescents with lower scores in social and mental well-being domains had structural changes in their retinal blood vessels, which could be indicative of future cardiovascular disease risk.
Researchers are investigating the impact of antioxidant vitamins C and E, alpha lipoic acid, resveratrol, and Sirt1 on blood vessel health in premenopausal women with type 1 diabetes. Early evidence suggests that treatment may restore protection against cardiovascular disease.
A new method developed by researchers at USC Viterbi School of Engineering uses machine learning to measure key risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and arterial stiffness using just a smartphone. The method was validated with existing tonometry data and showed high correlation with actual tonometry measurements.
Recommended alcohol limits in many countries may need to be lowered to around 100g/week for men and women, based on data from 600,000 current drinkers. This is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases, but higher risks of stroke and fatal conditions
A new study published in The Lancet found that regular drinking above the recommended UK guidelines for alcohol could take years off one's life. Drinking more than 5 drinks per week was linked to a higher risk of stroke, fatal aneurysm, heart failure, and death.
Large disparities persist in the impact of cardiovascular disease across US states, mainly influenced by modifiable risk factors. The study estimated health lost to CVD at the state level from 1990 to 2016 using the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016.
A new study found that branched chain amino acid levels in the blood are as predictive of heart disease as LDL cholesterol. Elevated BCAA levels were linked to increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular events.
A recent study by Donna Shelley et al found that small urban primary care practices consistently meet or exceed Million Hearts goals for cardiovascular disease care. However, these practices struggle to achieve clinical targets for patients with multiple risk factors, highlighting the need for support in managing complex cases.
Researchers found all frailty scores associated with future mortality, and some linked to cardiovascular disease but none to cancer. Certain scores outperform others for all-cause mortality and cardiovascular health outcomes.
A recent study published in Annals of Family Medicine found that interventions to decrease cardiovascular disease are not one-size-fits-all. Community-based approaches, such as the Boot Camp Translation method, can elicit unique contextual messages and materials that may be more effective for specific primary care practices.
Depression affects cardiovascular disease patients, leading to poorer healthcare experiences, increased healthcare resource use, and higher health costs. Studies found that undiagnosed depression in cardiovascular patients can result in worse healthcare-related quality of life and more emergency room visits.
Researchers found that people are more likely to choose a daily cup of tea or a pill over exercise to gain extra years of life. Exercise was the least preferred option, with only 63% willing to do it for an extra month.
A study found that one in ten low-income families with health insurance experience catastrophic medical expenses for chronic heart disease care. Low-income families are three times more likely to experience a significant financial burden compared to middle- to high-income families.
A single high-fat milkshake can quickly transform healthy red blood cells into small, spiky cells that wreak havoc inside blood vessels. This study found that such a meal can lead to impaired ability of blood vessels to relax and an immune response similar to one provoked by an infection.
A large study found that conventional risk factors largely explain the links between loneliness and first-time heart disease/stroke, but social isolation remained an independent risk factor for death among those with pre-existing cardiovascular disease. The study of nearly 480,000 people aged 40-69 found that social isolation was assoc...
Research presented at the American Heart Association's Epidemiology and Prevention | Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Scientific Sessions 2018 found that middle-aged adults with two or more teeth lost have a 23% increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The study suggests that tooth loss in middle age is related to inflammation and...
A new study published in the Journal of Hepatology links high consumption of red and processed meat to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and insulin resistance. High meat eaters had a higher risk of developing NAFLD and insulin resistance, regardless of saturated fat intake.
A new UCLA-led study found that cardiovascular health disparities between whites and minorities narrowed slightly from 1988 to 2014. However, the reduction was due to worsening health among whites, not improvements in African-Americans and Mexican-Americans.
Researchers found that participants on the 5:2 diet cleared triglyceride from a meal more efficiently than those on daily calorie restriction, reducing an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The study also showed a greater reduction in systolic blood pressure in participants on the 5:2 diet.
Researchers found that calcium deposits in large arteries increased the risk of heart attacks and mortality. The study suggests bone density tests can also screen for cardiovascular disease, making them a valuable tool in screening.
A study estimates that historical lead exposure may be responsible for 256,000 premature deaths from cardiovascular disease each year in the USA. The study found that low-level lead exposure increases the risk of premature death, especially from cardiovascular disease.
A new analysis found that canakinumab substantially reduced cardiovascular event rates among patients with diabetes and those with moderate to severe chronic kidney disease. The drug also showed benefits in reducing rates of major adverse cardiovascular events among high-risk atherosclerotic patients.
The CARES trial found that long-term febuxostat use in patients with heart disease significantly increases the risk of death, despite not raising cardiovascular outcomes. Researchers were unable to identify a biological mechanism explaining this finding.
Survivors of childhood cancer are at increased risk of premature cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure, dyslipidaemia, congestive heart failure, venous thromboembolism, stroke, and peripheral artery disease. Early screening and lifestyle modifications may help prevent long-term cardiovascular diseases.
Patients with cardiovascular disease have impaired levels of protective molecules in their blood in the morning, leading to increased risk of blood clots and heart attacks. Replenishing these molecules can improve cell behavior and reduce inflammation.
The special issue highlights the increasing burden of comorbidities in patients with cardiovascular disease, leading to poorer outcomes and reduced quality of life. Research findings emphasize the need for treatment guidelines tailored to multimorbidity patient groups.
Researchers have generated the first mouse model of atherosclerosis accelerated by progerin, a protein causing Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome. The study identifies vascular smooth muscle cells as a key target for treating premature atherosclerosis in progeria.
Researchers found that high glucose levels are associated with a higher risk of heart attack and kidney dysfunction in people with prediabetes. The study suggests that identifying and treating this group can lead to significant reductions in cardio-metabolic risks.