Articles tagged with Cardiology
Researchers found that exposure to e-cigarettes, marijuana, and tobacco led to increased scarring, decreased blood vessels, and changes in heart nerves, all contributing to an increased risk of arrhythmias. These substances can cause similar harm to the heart as traditional cigarettes.
A study found that males younger than 40 years old who received the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine had the highest rates of myocarditis, but overall cases are rare. The study suggests that choosing specific vaccines for certain populations may maximize benefits and minimize adverse events.
A new study found that long-term treatment with intravenous iron improved symptoms and reduced recurrent hospitalizations among people with heart failure and iron deficiency. The treatment was associated with a significant benefit on reducing the risk of heart failure hospitalization and cardiovascular death.
A new study has shown that bivalirudin is a safer and more effective anticoagulant than heparin for treating heart attack patients. The trial found that bivalirudin significantly reduced death, major bleeding, and thrombosis in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.
At AHA22, Smidt Heart Institute experts will cover various cardiology topics, including atrial fibrillation treatment and high-impact trials in intervention and surgery. Experts like Christine Albert, Joanna Chikwe, and Jon Kobashigawa will present their research on the effects of Omega-3 fatty acids and stroke management.
A new study published in Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that drug-coated balloons outperformed bare metal stents in treating femoropopliteal lesions. The research showed improved 12-month patency and freedom from clinically driven reintervention and major adverse events with drug-coated balloons.
The American Heart Association has selected 52 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) students for its Scholars program. The program aims to increase diversity in the healthcare field by providing opportunities for research, mentorship, and leadership development. Accepted students will study social determinants of health ...
Dr. David Kass, a Johns Hopkins professor, has advanced understanding of heart disease and its treatments through pioneering clinical studies and molecular research. His work has led to the development of new therapies for heart failure, obesity, muscular dystrophy, and potentially immunotherapy for cancer.
A new troponin test has been developed to help diagnose heart attacks more accurately. By detecting only large troponin molecules, the test can distinguish between heart attacks and other conditions such as renal insufficiency.
A Mayo Clinic study found that clinicians who were high adopters of an AI-enabled clinical decision support tool were twice as likely to diagnose low left ventricular ejection fraction as those who were low adopters. The tool's accuracy was critical in detecting serious health conditions before symptoms appeared.
A study of over 2,600 young heart attack survivors found that those who experienced more perceived discrimination had a higher risk of worse health outcomes. The research suggests that perceived discrimination acts as a chronic stressor that adversely impacts cardiovascular disease.
Researchers analyzed 30 years of cardiovascular mortality data from the US and UK, finding that lead exposure contributes more to CVD death risks in the US. The study also revealed a steady decline in cardiovascular deaths associated with all environmental factors in both countries.
Researchers found that vaping and smoking e-cigarettes led to greater constriction of the brachial artery and worse heart rate variability, indicating activation of the sympathetic nervous system. Vaping was also associated with poorer performance on exercise stress testing compared to non-nicotine users.
Research found social vulnerabilities such as poverty and minority status linked to increased cardiometabolic risk during pregnancy. The study analyzed nearly 19 million pregnancies in US counties from 2016-2020 and found that four leading cardiometabolic risk factors were associated with some social vulnerability.
Researchers found a significant increase in heart disease deaths among adults in the US during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study attributed this rise to factors such as lockdowns, lack of physical activity, increased smoking and alcohol use.
A new daily anti-clotting pill, edoxaban, shows promise in preventing bleeding and clotting instances rare in children with heart conditions. The study's findings indicate edoxaban is a viable alternative to current treatments, eliminating injections and reducing frequent blood tests.
A study of over 1.3 million young Asian American adults hospitalized for atrial fibrillation found a significant increase in obesity and other modifiable cardiovascular disease risk factors. Young adults with at least one cardiovascular risk factor were almost three times more likely to be hospitalized for atrial fibrillation.
A study found that living in a food desert increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and early death for people with PAD. People with PAD living in food deserts were 17% more likely to experience a major cardiac event compared to those with better nutrition access.
An AI-based model has been developed to assist radiologists in detecting and identifying leadless implanted electronic devices (LLIEDs) on chest X-ray images. The model achieved high detection and classification accuracy, even with suboptimal image quality, and showed promise for real-world deployment.
A new exercise-testing approach detects asymptomatic cardiovascular abnormalities in pediatric cancer survivors, highlighting the need for routine monitoring before symptoms appear. The method assesses exercise data through a combination of peak and submaximal parameters simultaneously.
Dr. Ivor Benjamin is recognized for his decades-long commitment to cardiovascular science, with a focus on proteostatic networks, stem cell biology, and redox homeostasis. He has led numerous initiatives to expand biomedical research and patient care, aiming to reduce health disparities and improve healthcare equity.
Dr. Mike Weisfeldt, a renowned cardiologist, will receive the American Heart Association's Eugene Braunwald Academic Mentorship Award for his efforts to increase diversity in cardiology and promote inclusivity. The award recognizes his leadership in recruiting underrepresented groups and fostering an equity-first approach in medicine.
Dr. Eldrin F. Lewis, a clinician scientist at Stanford University School of Medicine, has been awarded the 2022 Clinical Research Prize by the American Heart Association. His work focuses on improving quality of life and care delivery models for patients with heart failure through point-of-care initiatives.
The American Heart Association honored Drs. Harriette Van Spall and Erica Gunderson with the 2022 Dr. Nanette K. Wenger Research Goes Red Award for their groundbreaking study on sex-specific clinical outcomes of heart failure patients. The research found that women experienced improved outcomes after receiving transitional care service...
A novel screening tool has been developed to diagnose a serious heart condition in young athletes. The tool uses non-invasive ultrasound techniques to accurately identify cardiomyopathy, reducing false positives and providing better protection for the athletes of tomorrow.
Researchers found that adult heart cells have fewer communication pathways called nuclear pores, which may protect against harmful signals but prevent regeneration. This discovery sheds light on why adult hearts do not regenerate like newborn mice and human hearts.
Researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine found that many reasons clinicians reject transplantation in cannabis users have no scientific basis. They identified areas where more research is needed, including interactions between cannabis and immunosuppressants.
A new study found that soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) levels are significantly higher in patients with heart failure, predicting both heart failure and death. When combined with traditional measures like BNP, suPAR's predictive ability increases.
A polypill combining blood pressure lowering agents, statins, and aspirin could avoid millions of premature deaths and cardiovascular disease cases annually. Its widespread availability would be affordable for most people globally, reducing CVD risk substantially.
A study published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology found that smartwatch health apps detecting atrial fibrillation generated a high rate of false positives and inconclusive results, especially in patients with certain cardiac conditions. Better algorithms and machine learning may help improve the accuracy of these devices.
A new study found that electronic gaming can precipitate life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias in susceptible children with previously unrecognized predispositions. The most common underlying causes were catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and congenital long QT syndrome types 1 and 2.
A new study found that younger women hospitalized with heart attacks had a significantly higher prevalence of cardiac risk factors and comorbidities compared to younger men. This led to higher rehospitalization rates and all-cause readmission rates, emphasizing the need for ongoing efforts to improve prevention strategies.
A large Kaiser Permanente study found that most patients with a thoracic aortic aneurysm less than 5.5 cm are not at high risk of experiencing dissection or requiring surgery. The study's findings support the current consensus guidelines recommending surgery for patients with larger aneurysms.
Researchers have identified specific magnetic resonance imaging features that indicate cardiac sarcoidosis patients are at higher risk for adverse cardiac outcomes, including ventricular arrhythmias. These findings suggest that patients with certain cardiac MRI features may benefit from implantable cardioverter defibrillators.
Researchers developed an AI algorithm to assess retinal vasculature, predicting cardiovascular disease and death. The model captured half to two-thirds of circulatory disease deaths in those most at risk, outperforming traditional risk frameworks.
The journal Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications (CVIA) has published its final issue of Volume 6, featuring several important papers by leading cardiologists from China, the United States, and Turkey. The issue includes an In Memoriam paper in tribute to Dr. C.R. Conti, a Founding Editor of the journal.
A recent study found that 38% of people with cardiovascular disease were food insecure in 2017-2018, more than doubling from two decades earlier. Food insecurity exacerbates existing racial and ethnic health disparities and can lead to increased risk for cardiometabolic risk factors.
A collaborative home-based palliative care model has been shown to improve health care outcomes for adults with chronic heart failure. The study found that patients who received this care were less likely to die in the hospital and more likely to die at home compared to those who received usual care.
Researchers analyzed over 6,700 patients treated for blood clots and irregular heart rhythms. Stopping aspirin significantly reduced bleeding complications by 32.3% and prevented one major bleeding event per every 1,000 patients who stopped taking aspirin.
Researchers from Temple University Health System developed a device that significantly reduces blood clot size in pulmonary arteries, leading to improved heart function and shorter treatment duration. The breakthrough is based on data collected in the NIH-sponsored RESCUE trial.
A study using STS/ACC TVT Registry data found that most patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) and cardiogenic shock who underwent TEER achieved successful MR reduction, with associated lower mortality and heart failure hospitalizations at one year. Device success was linked to improved survival rates in a high-risk population.
A first-in-human study using the ModulHeart device showed significant improvements in cardiac output, left ventricular end diastolic pressure, and urine output in patients with heart failure. The study demonstrated the feasibility and safety of cardiorenal support among patients undergoing high-risk PCI.
Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, is honored with the TCT Career Achievement Award for his transformative work in interventional cardiology and patient care. He has made significant global contributions to cardiovascular medicine.
A budget impact analysis found that catheter-based TAVR is an affordable and effective strategy for treating aortic stenosis patients, with lower total costs compared to surgical SAVR. The study showed that the upfront cost of TAVR is partially offset by reduced healthcare resources, making it a more efficient option.
A new study found that strict lockdowns in France resulted in a measurable improvement in cardiovascular health, with reduced vascular stiffness and body weight. In contrast, partial lockdowns in Germany had little to no impact on cardiovascular health.
The American College of Cardiology's new four-part focus seminar series examines the importance of exercise in preventing and managing heart disease. Regular exercise is associated with changes in cardiac morphology, improved blood circulation, and reduced cardiovascular risk factors.
A new clinical practice guideline provides guidance on delivering women-focused cardiac rehabilitation programs to increase participation and improve outcomes. The guideline presents 15 recommendations to address inequities in cardiovascular disease care for women.
The 2022 ACC/AHA guideline updates chest pain definitions and establishes standardized data elements for consistent reporting. The new definitions focus on serious cardiovascular causes of chest pain and acute myocardial infarction, aiming to ensure accurate reporting across clinical trials and registries.
A study published in The Lancet reveals that AI-based risk profiling can improve treatment outcomes for women with heart attacks. By accounting for sex-related differences, the novel score refines current risk models and reduces mortality rates among female patients.
A new type of extravascular ICD using a lead placed behind the sternum effectively terminated acute and chronic life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. The device delivered anti-tachycardia pacing to terminate 70% of ventricular tachycardia episodes, with a defibrillation success rate of 98.7%.
A clinical trial has shown that full-dose anticoagulation therapy is more effective than standard-dose prophylactic anticoagulation in preventing blood clotting complications in COVID-19 patients. The study found a significant reduction in venous or arterial clotting complications among patients who received full-dose treatment.
A new risk score can help predict mortality for patients with atrial fibrillation who have undergone successful TAVR and been discharged home. The risk score was developed using data from the ENVISAGE-TAVI AF trial, which found that patients with certain clinical risks were more likely to die within a year of discharge.
A study of 22 million patients found that those with autoimmune disorders have a substantially higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The excess risk is similar to that of type 2 diabetes and affects the entire cardiovascular disease spectrum.
The SECURE trial found that the polypill, containing aspirin, ramipril, and atorvastatin, achieves clinically relevant reductions in recurrent cardiovascular events among patients recovering from a heart attack. This simplified approach improves treatment adherence, leading to a 33% reduction in cardiovascular mortality.
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.
The TCT MedTech Innovation Forum is an intensive summit bringing together clinicians, entrepreneurs, investors, and regulators to identify clinical challenges and drive innovation in medtech. The agenda features interdisciplinary perspectives on unmet clinical needs, financing, regulatory policy, and evolving healthcare delivery models.
A recent study published in JAMA found that despite overall improvements in cholesterol levels since 2008, sex, racial, and ethnic disparities persist in lipid control. The research team analyzed data from over 33,000 US adults and discovered significant variations in trends by race and ethnicity.
Researchers developed a polygenic risk score to predict sudden cardiac death in coronary artery disease patients. The study found that patients with high genetic risk scores had a 77% increased risk of sudden cardiac death.
A new study from the University of Sheffield suggests that giving antibiotics to those at high risk of developing a life-threatening heart infection significantly reduces their risk. Current UK guidelines against routine use of antibiotics for these patients may be putting them at unnecessary extra risk.
A RCSI study has found that babies born with Down Syndrome experience impaired changes in heart function and blood pressure in their lungs over the first two years of age. The research suggests that all babies with Down Syndrome should have their heart function monitored during childhood due to these common issues.