Research from the field of heart medicine. Covers light exposure and heart health, lifestyle and longevity, and regional cardiology care.
Patients without coronary artery calcium had significantly lower risk of future heart attacks or strokes, even with diabetes, high blood pressure, or bad cholesterol levels. A CT scan may be worthwhile to discuss treatment options and add more information about the patient's 10-year risk.
Researchers emphasize the importance of primary prevention for Type 2 Diabetes patients to reduce heart disease risk, highlighting the need for evidence-based guidelines and lifestyle management strategies. Proven medical therapies and lifestyle interventions can significantly reduce cardiovascular burden among these patients.
The American College of Cardiology has launched a series of educational forums in central and eastern China to address the growing burden of valvular heart disease. The program aims to provide high-quality, accessible care for patients from underserved communities.
A new review paper emphasizes the need for tailored approaches to address unique health needs of women, particularly minority populations. The paper highlights the importance of sex and gender science, personalized care, and public reporting of data to improve cardiovascular health outcomes.
The CVIA China Focus Issue brings together contributions from leading cardiologists in the US and China, highlighting epidemiology, prevention, rehabilitation, and clinical management of CVD in China. The issue also highlights future perspectives in cardiovascular disease of China.
A new study found that patients newly diagnosed with atrial fibrillation who received early cardiology care had a 9% lower risk of stroke and an 11% lower risk of death. Early prescription of anticoagulants also appeared to lower the risk of stroke.
Research finds that women are often unaware of their risk, and physicians don't prioritize prevention due to perceived barriers. The study aims to destigmatize cardiovascular disease for women and promote evidence-based guidelines for better treatment.
A new study reveals that nearly half of US women are not aware of the leading cause of death among females, with only 40% reporting a heart health assessment by their healthcare provider. Women's Heart Alliance reports alarming data on delayed medical care due to weight concerns and lack of education.
A study examining TAVR procedures for off-label indications found similar 1-year mortality rates compared to on-label use. The procedure was used in 9.5% of cases, with adjusted 30-day mortality higher in the off-label group.
A study suggests that lowering systolic blood pressure to below the current recommended targets can significantly lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause death. The researchers analyzed data from 42 clinical trials involving over 144,000 patients with hypertension.
A large-scale registry study found that high-sensitivity troponin T assay is associated with a lower incidence of cardiovascular events in patients with unspecified chest pain. The percentage of serious events dropped from 0.9% to 0.6% after introducing the new method.
A retrospective observational study found that men have a more severe form of chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy, with lower left and right ventricular ejection fractions and larger cardiac volumes compared to women. The study's results suggest that female sex hormones may be protective against this condition.
The 11,800 participants shared the latest developments and best practices in treating cardiovascular conditions, including coronary and valvular heart disease and stroke. EuroPCR 2017 also celebrated the 40th anniversary of angioplasty with an exhibition tracing its pioneering history.
A Canadian cardiologist has successfully used a new MitraClip device to treat severe mitral regurgitation through the jugular vein for the first time in the world. The procedure was performed on an 86-year-old patient with no complications, allowing her to improve and be discharged home.
A large dataset reports that deferring revascularization in patients with intermediate stenosis leads to fewer interventions. The rate of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) was low, especially in those without acute coronary syndromes.
A study found that 4 in 10 patients with elevated stroke risk are not prescribed necessary stroke-prevention medication, resulting in potentially hundreds of thousands of preventable strokes each year. The lack of prescribed medication is attributed to disparities in prescribing practices and patient socioeconomic factors.
The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) has recognized outstanding SCAI members for their contributions to the field of interventional cardiology, education, and patient care. This year's award recipients include George Vetrovec, MD, MSCAI, and nine Master Interventionalists, who have demonstrated a commitme...
The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions has selected 12 emerging interventional cardiologists for the Emerging Leader Mentorship (ELM) program. The two-year mentorship program aims to refine their skills as leaders in medicine, ambassadors for their specialty, and advocates for their patients.
A new position paper provides consensus recommendations for ionizing radiation dose optimization in pediatric patients with congenital and acquired heart disease. The guidelines focus on strategies to minimize radiation exposure while maintaining effective imaging procedures.
A global study reveals low adherence to International Atomic Energy Agency recommendations for reducing nuclear cardiology radiation exposure. The research found that stress or rest only imaging, avoiding thallium, and camera technologies to reduce dose were key practices associated with achieving a 9 mSv scan.
A large nuclear cardiology laboratory has achieved a significant reduction in radiation doses, from 17.9 mSv in 2009 to 7.2 mSv in 2016, with the median dose dropping by 75%. The study used new technologies and protocols, including stress-only tests and more sensitive cameras, to achieve these reductions.
A study found substantial differences in accuracy between commercially available heart rate apps, with some apps performing up to 20 beats per minute off from the clinical gold standard. Non-contact apps performed less well than contact apps, particularly at higher heart rates and lower body temperatures.
A study published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology found that women with atrial fibrillation/flutter experienced higher death rates than men 30 and 90 days after discharge from emergency departments. The study analyzed data from 21,062 patients and identified differences in outcomes between male and female patients.
A UT Southwestern Medical Center study found no correlation between high early readmission rates and one-year mortality or long-term readmission rates for heart attack patients. However, hospitals with high penalties tend to serve more ethnic minorities and patients with severe disease.
A substantial proportion of patients prescribed high-intensity statins following a heart attack do not continue taking the medication. High-intensity statin adherence decreases over time, especially among African American and Hispanic patients and those without Medicare/Medicaid coverage or cardiologist visits.
A Danish study found that working-age people with fainting spells have a 1.4-fold increased risk of occupational accidents and a 2-fold higher risk of job loss compared to those without the condition. Younger individuals with poor socioeconomic status or additional health conditions are particularly at high risk.
A new study found a substantial increase in CVI procedures in the Medicare population between 2005 and 2014. Cardiology saw the most rapid growth in market share, while vascular surgeons and other specialists also increased their services.
A study published in JAMA Cardiology found that New York counties with trans-fatty acid (TFA) restrictions on eateries experienced a significant decrease in hospitalization rates for heart attacks and strokes compared to counties without restrictions. The study, which included data from 2002 to 2013, suggests that TFA restrictions may ...
Researchers analyzed 11 trials involving 6,560 PVD patients and found no significant effect on death rates or major cardiac events. The study suggests that aspirin therapy may not be beneficial for certain patients with peripheral vascular disease.
Dr. Debabrata Mukherjee advises against bioresorbable stents due to their high cost, longer insertion time, and lack of improved results compared to conventional drug-eluting stents. The recent clinical trial results show a higher risk of device thrombosis with Absorb stents.
US physicians saw a 55.7% drop in paid malpractice claims over the 22-year period, with pediatricians experiencing the largest decline of 75.8%. The rate of payments also increased by 23.3%, while the amount of payment varied significantly among specialties.
The first issue of Volume 2 of Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications (CVIA) has been published with a Special Issue on Imaging. The issue brings together contributions from leading cardiologists and features recent advances in noninvasive cardiac imaging, as well as clinical applications and future directions.
Researchers developed a smartphone app using geofencing to track participants' hospital visits, achieving 65% accuracy. The study highlights the potential of smartphones in tracking medical visits and reducing retrospective reporting errors.
A simple fix to avoid unnecessary coronary stents has been discovered, involving the administration of intracoronary nitroglycerin during procedures. By doing so, cardiologists can identify and treat coronary artery spasm, reducing the need for stenting procedures.
Researchers found that a pacemaker delivering a pacing program designed to detect and stop abnormal heart rhythms can significantly reduce fainting episodes in patients with recurrent syncope. The study, known as SPAIN, showed a seven-fold reduction in recurrences of syncope in patients who used the program.
A study found that nearly a quarter of older patients developing new microbleeds after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) experience cognitive decline. Microbleeds are detrimental to thinking and memory, and factors associated with increased risk include previous cardiovascular intervention and prolonged anticoagulant exposure.
New research reveals a significant gap in statin eligibility for African Americans under different guidelines, highlighting the need for personalized treatment. The study found that stricter USPSTF guidelines may miss some individuals with vascular calcification and low or moderate risk.
The new iFR tool has been shown to be equivalent to the current preferred tool FFR in terms of major adverse events and patient outcomes. It also resulted in markedly less patient discomfort and reduced procedure-related adverse events compared to FFR.
A new study finds that patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) who undergo moderate-intensity exercise training experience a small but statistically significant increase in peak VO2 max. This improvement is associated with reduced mortality risk and improved self-reported physical functioning.
Dr. Steven M. Bradley, a Minneapolis Heart Institute physician, has been awarded the American College of Cardiology's 2017 Douglas P. Zipes Distinguished Young Scientist Award. He will be recognized for his contributions to cardiovascular medicine and innovative care delivery solutions.
Researchers from Mount Sinai Health System will present their study on the predictive value of the Fuster-BEWAT score for predicting the extent of subclinical atherosclerosis in healthy individuals, and another study exploring determinants of subclinical atherosclerosis in the absence of cardiovascular risk factors.
The updated guidelines focus on global risk assessments and non-invasive testing results, emphasizing individualized case evaluation. The revised criteria aim to improve quality of care by delivering the right treatment to the right patients.
A small case report suggests that Zika-linked birth defects may only be 'tip of the iceberg' when it comes to cardiovascular complications. Eight of nine patients developed dangerous arrhythmias and six experienced heart failure, with symptoms manifesting on average 10 days after initial complaints.
The new guidelines provide recommendations for physicians on how to evaluate and manage patients with syncope. They include detailed history and physical examination, ECG tests, and restrictions on exercise for certain patients.
Researchers found that measuring ceramides in the blood can predict major cardiovascular events among patients with and without blockages. Ceramides were linked to a threefold to fourfold greater risk of cardiovascular events compared to those with low ceramide levels.
A large US healthcare system study found that taking misoprostol with NSAIDs significantly lowers the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure compared to taking NSAIDs alone. The combination is associated with a 25-34% lower risk of these events.
Research reveals that only one-third of hospitalized smokers with heart disease received evidence-based smoking-cessation therapies, highlighting a performance gap among hospitals and cardiologists. Smokers who had lung disease or were younger than 58 years old were more likely to receive treatment.
A study found that people with high blood pressure consumed an average of 3,100 milligrams of sodium per day, more than twice the recommended daily limit. The increase was driven by rising sodium intake among Hispanics and African-Americans, groups that historically showed lower sodium intake levels.
A new review published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology concludes that eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts can reduce heart disease risk. A predominantly plant-based diet is recommended over other nutrition fads.
A recent study by the University of Leicester found that a widely used exercise test for aortic stenosis has a 60% accuracy rate, leading to thousands of unnecessary open heart operations. The test recommends valve replacement therapy for those who become breathless during the test, but actual symptoms may not develop within a year.
The eHealth revolution is transforming cardiovascular medicine with smartphone apps predicting worsening heart failure and apps warning of dangerously low blood pressure or glucose levels. Big Data analysis provides insights into the greatest impact of treatments and compares results across countries.
A new online tool uses data from the PROMISE trial to predict patients at minimal risk for heart trouble, allowing primary care doctors to safely defer non-invasive cardiac tests. The tool considers 10 clinical variables and can help clinicians quantify minimal risk, opening a conversation with patients on whether a test is worthwhile.
A Massachusetts General Hospital study found that women cardiologists are less likely to be full professors than their male counterparts, even after adjusting for factors such as age and research productivity. The disparity persists across different medical schools and specialties.
A study published in JAMA Cardiology found that habitual e-cigarette users have increased cardiac sympathetic activity and oxidative stress, which are mechanisms associated with tobacco cigarette smoking. These findings suggest a potential increased cardiovascular risk profile for habitual e-cigarette users.
A new study published in JAMA Cardiology has found that habitual e-cigarette users are more likely to have increased cardiac sympathetic activity and oxidative stress compared to non-users. The findings suggest that e-cigarettes may not be harmless and warrant further research into their potential adverse cardiovascular health effects.
A study of patients undergoing catheter ablation found a significantly higher rate of brain injury due to embolism among those with left ventricle therapy compared to right ventricle therapy. Brain lesions may also be associated with cognitive decline, highlighting the need for further research and strategies to avoid these lesions.
The report showcases improvements in heart attack care, with 93% of patients receiving stents within 90 minutes. Key findings also highlight strengths and areas for improvement in other cardiovascular procedures, such as ICD therapy and congenital heart disease interventions.
The American College of Cardiology has published a new document to manage patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation who need surgery. The guideline provides guidance on temporarily stopping anticoagulation medications, choosing alternative treatments, and restarting blood thinners after surgery.
A study published in JAMA Cardiology found that only 32% of patients between 30-39 years old with high LDL-C levels were prescribed statins. For those aged 40-49, the rate was 47%, while for those over 50, it was 61%. This suggests a significant gap in treatment for younger adults with severe dyslipidemia.
The study found a significant decrease in the rate of death and heart attack after noncardiac surgery, with an annual incidence of approximately 150,000 events. However, the risk of ischemic stroke increased over time, from 0.52% in 2004 to 0.77% in 2013.