Research from the field of heart medicine. Covers light exposure and heart health, lifestyle and longevity, and regional cardiology care.
Researchers at Temple University Health System report that the BASHIR Endovascular Catheter reduces blockages in lung arteries and correlates with improved right ventricle function, suggesting better survival outcomes. The catheter also shows significantly lower bleeding rates compared to other devices.
Adults with congenital heart disease are at increased risk of death or cardiovascular complications after hospitalization for heart failure. However, those who received recent cardiology care before hospital admission had lower rates of death and major complications.
Despite its cost-effective prevention for recurrent events, cardiac rehabilitation remains inaccessible to many due to lack of social support, particularly in poorer countries. Home-based rehabilitation and comprehensive lifelong healthy behavioral programs may help address these barriers.
Research found that higher cortical excitability is recorded during the systolic phase of the cardiac cycle, suggesting a link between heartbeats and neural processing. This study has implications for treatments of depression and stroke, where TMS pulses stimulate nerve cells.
Thirty-two institutions earned the SET-10 distinction, with top ten recognized globally for their dedication to advancing scientific knowledge in interventional cardiovascular medicine. The rankings span six categories and acknowledge excellence within and outside the United States.
Adults with lower household incomes are less likely to receive cardiologist involvement during heart failure hospitalizations. Socioeconomic factors may influence the quality of care provided to these patients.
Deepak Srivastava, president of Gladstone Institutes, has made significant original and sustained scientific contributions advancing cardiovascular science. His laboratory has deciphered new ways to generate cardiac cells that repair heart damage, translating into novel approaches for treating disease.
A randomized clinical trial of 2,858 patients with new-onset and worsening chronic heart failure shows that torsemide and furosemide have no significant difference in clinical or patient-reported outcomes at 12 months. Torsemide is associated with better outcomes for patients with de novo heart failure.
A study of US neighborhoods found a strong association between environmental burden and higher rates of cardiovascular risk factors and diseases. Socially vulnerable neighborhoods showed the strongest associations, highlighting the need for initiatives to address poor environmental conditions and improve cardiovascular health.
The ORBITA-2 trial found that stenting improves symptoms compared to a placebo procedure, providing evidence-based treatment for stable chest pain. The study suggests updating guidelines for stable coronary artery disease and offers patients and medical teams two treatment strategies with similar benefits.
A recent study published in Circulation found that non-ischemic or dual cardiomyopathy occurs in 1 out of every 6 patients with coronary artery disease. These conditions are characterized by heart muscle damage and can lead to worse long-term outcomes. The researchers used cardiac MRI to determine the cause of cardiomyopathy, which has...
A Pitt University study found that individuals with higher education levels are less likely to experience cardiovascular disease events later in life. On average, those with less than a high school education were 1.4-1.7 times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke compared to college graduates.
A recent study in JAMA Cardiology analyzed data from 15,000 patients and found that enteric coating on aspirin does not change its effectiveness or safety for secondary prevention of cardiovascular events. The study suggests that patients can choose the aspirin formulation that suits them best.
A new study by UC San Francisco found that poor sleep is significantly associated with a 15% greater risk of experiencing atrial fibrillation the next day. The researchers suggest strategies like going to bed at a reasonable time, avoiding alcohol and caffeine before bedtime, and exercising regularly to improve general sleep quality.
Dr. Marlene Rabinovitch, a renowned pediatric cardiologist, will receive the 2023 Research Achievement Award for her groundbreaking research on PAH treatment. Her discoveries have led to the identification of neutrophil elastase as a trigger for inflammatory responses and the potential use of immunosuppressant FK506 to restore lung blo...
Researchers found that urine biomarkers can be more accurate than serum biomarkers for detecting specific diseases. The study highlights the potential of combining urinary and serum biomarkers for holistic disease diagnosis and management. However, challenges remain in standardizing urinary biomarker assays and expanding their applicat...
Dr. Marc A. Pfeffer will receive the 2023 Eugene Braunwald Academic Mentorship Award for his remarkable teaching and mentoring career, which has inspired numerous professionals in cardiovascular medicine. He is credited with directly mentoring 58 individuals throughout their careers.
A new study reveals that women with atrial fibrillation (AF) have comparable outcomes to men when undergoing pulsed field ablation (PFA), a safer and more precise procedure. The results show improved AF recurrence rates in women after PFA, making them an eligible candidate for this life-enhancing treatment.
The American Heart Association statement proposes next-generation biomarkers for earlier detection of cardiometabolic risk factors in children, which can be influenced by heart-healthy nutrition and lifestyle factors. This could lead to better prevention and intervention strategies for obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
A new study analyzes data from the US cohort of the FLASH registry and shows that mechanical thrombectomy can significantly improve outcomes for patients with high-risk PE. The procedure is associated with a significant reduction in acute mortality among these patients.
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.
A secondary analysis of the Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) cohort study found that black and non-black women with obstructive coronary artery disease had similar long-term cardiovascular outcomes. The study suggests that guideline-based treatment, including statins and ACE inhibitors, may reduce racial disparities in cardi...
A new study found significant racial and socioeconomic inequities in access to mechanical circulatory support for US patients with cardiogenic shock. Black patients were more likely to experience reduced access to life-saving therapies like mLVAD and ECMO, highlighting systemic disparities.
A new study published in eClinicalMedicine suggests that ECG-AI can flag some risks years sooner than current risk calculator equations by identifying signs of coronary artery disease, such as calcification and blockages. The technology has the potential to save more lives by identifying people who do not know they have coronary disease.
A novel study by a Japanese multicenter registry reveals significant benefits of using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in coronary interventions. The analysis showed reduced mortality and need for coronary bypass surgery in patients who underwent IVUS-guided procedures, highlighting its value in improving treatment outcomes.
A study led by UC San Francisco found that homeless individuals have a 7 times higher rate of sudden cardiac death compared to the general population. Non-cardiac causes, such as overdoses and unrecognized infections, are more common among homeless people.
A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that stress and depression are common among women at the time of heart attack and for two months after. However, researchers discovered that women with heart attacks due to blockages had higher stress levels than those with open arteries.
Mutations in the PRDM16 gene alter heart muscle cell metabolism, leading to weakened hearts and increased risk of congenital heart failure in women. Female mice with this genetic defect experience significantly more heart problems than males.
A new study assesses the safety and efficacy of radial access for peripheral artery interventions, finding it associated with favorable safety profiles and comparable procedural success rates. Radial access was also found to reduce bleeding complications and improve patient comfort, making it a potential alternative to traditional femo...
A new study from Linköping University has found that the appearance of the thymus gland in chest CT scans is linked to immune system ageing. The researchers examined over 1,000 Swedish individuals aged 50-64 and found that fatty degeneration of the thymus was more common in men and those with abdominal obesity. Lifestyle factors such a...
Middle-aged Chinese surgery patients experience subjective cognitive impairment within 12 months after surgery, with identified risk factors. Preoperative psychological interventions and optimized perioperative management may help prevent postoperative cognitive impairment.
Researchers developed an AI tool that can detect valvular heart disease with 93% sensitivity and 98% specificity. The tool analyzes audio data from a short burst of sound vibrations using a contact microphone and neural networks, allowing for quick identification of five different valvular diseases.
A recent study found that less than one-third of TAVR patients participate in cardiac rehabilitation within 90 days after discharge. Factors such as age, frailty, and medical complexity contribute to lower enrollment rates. The study highlights the need for improved education and hospital protocols to promote post-procedure care.
Researchers at ETH Zurich found that targeting deep sleep with brief tones increases heart contractions, improving cardiovascular function. This leads to increased blood flow and a more efficient pumping mechanism.
A post hoc analysis of 10,678 participants with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease found no significant difference in heart attack, stroke, or death risk between enteric-coated and uncoated aspirin. Enteric-coated aspirin may offer reduced bleeding risk, but more research is needed to confirm its benefits.
A real-world study confirms the reliability and effectiveness of the Pooled Cohort Equation (PCE) in assessing cardiovascular risk, regardless of statin use. The PCE performed well across different demographics and retained accuracy with measurement factors outside its original risk profile range.
A study published in Diabetes Care found that obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia alter cardiac energy production by interfering with metabolic substrate uptake. The research reveals early changes in apparently healthy middle-aged individuals, highlighting the importance of identifying mechanisms involved in heart disease onset.
Leading professional organizations announce first-time multidisciplinary consensus guidelines for essential and comprehensive care centers in the US. The guidelines aim to address known variation in outcomes at different centers, providing structure, process, and outcome components necessary for quality care.
A new study from Tulane University found that walking more than five flights of stairs daily can cut the risk of heart disease by 20%. The study, published in Atherosclerosis, used UK Biobank data from 450,000 adults and found that stair climbing reduced cardiovascular disease risk in those with multiple risk factors.
A study showed that yoga therapy can improve heart failure patients' endurance, strength, balance, symptom stability, and overall quality of life. Additionally, echocardiographic parameters revealed improved left ventricular systolic function in the yoga group compared to the non-interventional group.
The September issue of the CHEST journal features research on long COVID, including a review on exercise pathophysiology in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2. Original studies also explore asthma treatment with albuterol-budesonide inhalers and sleep therapy using oronasal masks.
Researchers analyzed data from 2005-2020 and found that 10-year conditional survival was similar between biventricular and most single-ventricle CHD patients. Biventricular CHD patients also showed better 10-year survival compared to non-CHD heart transplant recipients.
A study from Amsterdam UMC followed over 250 elite athletes who had contracted COVID-19 and found no severe heart issues impacting their careers. Despite some athletes showing slightly elevated resting heart rates, there were no significant differences in overall heart function or ventricular arrhythmias.
Research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that patients who start taking a combination of statins and ezetimibe after a heart attack are 47% less likely to die within three years. The study suggests that changing treatment guidelines could prevent many thousands of deaths each year.
A novel study published in The Lancet finds that redo TAVR with balloon-expandable valves is both safe and effective for select patients who require a repeat procedure. The study, led by Cedars-Sinai, showed no difference in death or stroke rates between redo and first-time TAVR at 30-day and one-year marks.
A recent clinical trial led by Professor Holger Thiele found that ECLS does not reduce 30-day mortality after cardiogenic shock, but is associated with more complications. The study involved 420 patients and compared ECLS therapy with standard intensive care unit treatment.
Researchers found that optimized statin therapy can significantly reduce mortality and cardiovascular events in US military veterans with coronary artery disease. Widespread use of ezetimibe alongside statins may lead to additional reductions in cardiovascular risk.
A study by the British Heart Foundation found that in England and Scotland, the average distance to a 24/7 accessible defibrillator is over 1.8km in deprived areas, highlighting alarming health inequalities. Researchers are urging urgent action to improve access to these lifesaving devices.
The Cardiovascular Research Foundation has announced the TCT 2023 late-breaking clinical trials, featuring 12 studies on minimally invasive techniques, pharmaceuticals, technologies, and devices. These trials aim to improve patient outcomes in cardiovascular disease, with a focus on safety and effectiveness.
The COVID-19 pandemic worsened treatment outcomes for patients admitted with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), but did not significantly amplify existing racial and ethnic disparities in care. Additional efforts are needed to mitigate these inequities, particularly during periods of high hospital COVID-19 burden.
The Texas Heart Institute has received a five-year, $2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to advance organ bioengineering. The project aims to develop transplantable bioartificial hearts to combat end-stage heart failure.
Patients with valvular heart disease, congenital abnormalities, or pacemakers should prioritize prevention measures like twice-daily tooth cleaning and strict skin hygiene. The Guidelines emphasize the importance of patient education, antibiotic prophylaxis, and early diagnosis to combat infective endocarditis.
A new study found that younger atrial fibrillation (AFib) patients who underwent MRI-guided ablation treatments had better outcomes. The treatment significantly improved arrhythmia recurrence rates by 50% for patients under 58 years old.
The European Society of Cardiology calls for competency-based cardiac imaging delivery to enhance effective and efficient patient care. This approach enables cardiologists to deliver high-quality imaging services, select the most appropriate modality for each clinical scenario, and provide informed decision-making.
Fish oil supplements often make health claims without sufficient trial data, leading to potential variability in safety and efficacy due to differing doses of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. The study highlights the need for more rigorous regulation of these products.
A new study found that catheter ablation significantly lowers the incidence of cardiovascular events and death in very old patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. The researchers compared 208 patients who underwent AF ablation with those who received medical therapy only, finding a lower risk of both cardiovascular events and de...
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital have developed an AI model that screens electrocardiograms (ECG) for signs of atrial septal defects (ASD), a common adult congenital heart disease. The model correctly detected ASD in 93.7% of cases, outperforming traditional methods.
A recent study at UC Irvine found that semaglutide medication can lead to significant weight loss and reduce cardiovascular risk in 93 million U.S. adults. The medication may prevent up to 1.5 million heart attacks and strokes over 10 years, resulting in 43 million fewer obese people.
The study found that walking at least 3967 steps a day reduces the risk of dying from any cause, while 2337 steps a day reduces the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. The researchers also found that every 500-1000 extra steps increase health benefits and reduce mortality risk by up to 15%.
A new American Heart Association science advisory emphasizes the need for more resources and best practices in pediatric preventive cardiovascular care. The survey found that many programs are overwhelmed with referrals and have long wait times, highlighting the importance of updated guidelines and strategic action plans.