Research from the field of heart medicine. Covers light exposure and heart health, lifestyle and longevity, and regional cardiology care.
A new transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) procedure has shown significant benefits for patients with severe mitral regurgitation, reducing symptoms and improving quality of life. The study found that the treatment sustained clinical improvements over one year, with no major complications.
A registry analysis found that while men and women with acute myocardial infarction-related cardiogenic shock differ in treatment options, clinical decisions are driven by objective markers of illness severity rather than sex. The study suggests significant differences in how treatment options are discussed with patients and caregivers.
A study found that higher midlife cardiorespiratory fitness is strongly associated with later onset of chronic disease, lower overall disease burden, and longer life expectancy. Adults with higher fitness levels developed fewer chronic diseases and spent more years free from serious illness.
A new global allocation system is being proposed to address inequities in organ allocation for heart transplants. The proposal aims to reduce disparities and ensure no viable donor heart goes unused globally.
The American College of Cardiology recognized 20 individuals from eight countries for earning the Fellow of ACC (FACC) designation. The award reflects a strong commitment to improving patient care and advancing cardiovascular research.
Researchers created a new polymer electrode that conforms to the skin, is comfortable, and can pick up ECG signals without gel or adhesives. The technology performed comparably to existing sensors in proof-of-concept testing, showcasing its potential for practical and cost-effective health monitoring applications.
A study analyzing Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data reveals higher awareness and treatment of major risk factors among Korean women with CVD, but lower control rates. Sex differences were observed in most management indicators, with men having more risk factors on average.
A study from Umeå University found that visualizing ultrasound images of atherosclerosis, combined with a motivational dialogue, increases motivation to improve lifestyle habits and take preventive medication. This results in lower estimated risk of cardiovascular disease and better development of risk factors over time.
Researchers at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center have introduced a new, non-invasive treatment option for patients with refractory ventricular tachycardia, a life-threatening heart condition. The therapy uses precision-targeted radiation to neutralize damaged heart tissue and is offered at select centers worldwide.
Alexandra J. Lansky, MD, MSCAI, has been reappointed to a second five-year term as Editor-in-Chief of JSCAI, the official peer-reviewed journal of SCAI. The journal has rapidly expanded its global reach and established itself as a trusted source for original research, clinical guidance, and educational content in interventional cardiol...
The conference brings together leading experts to examine emerging trends and evidence-based approaches to preventing and managing heart disease. Cardiometabolic disease accounts for a significant burden in the Asia-Pacific region, with rapid urbanization, digitalization, and uneven health-system capacity contributing to this issue.
The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions and Canadian Association of Interventional Cardiology will host a joint conference featuring the latest clinical data, procedural guidance, and advanced expertise. The event aims to empower clinicians with rigorous data, practical education, and leadership development.
EuroPCR 2026 will feature 4 days of quality content, case-based learning sessions, and interactive formats. The course is designed for all levels of experience, covering topics in interventional cardiology, nursing, and research. EuroPCR aims to advance the quality of interventional practice and provide a transformative experience.
Treatment with i.v. furosemide plus HSS significantly decreased serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers IL-6, sST2, hsTnT, galectin-3, and NT-proBNP. The study found that this combination therapy modulated some miRNA expression and was associated with reduced miR181b expression compared to furosemide alone.
East Campus Medical Center has doubled its average daily census since 2024, with over 4,000 patients transferring to the hospital from other UC San Diego Health locations. The hospital now offers expanded services in cardiology, gastroenterology, and more, with a focus on continuity and relationship-based medicine.
A meta-analysis of GLP-1 receptor agonist studies found potential safety signals for gastrointestinal side effects, while some evidence suggested a link to reduced respiratory disease risk. Further research is needed to confirm the latter association.
Early and continuous acoramidis treatment resulted in sustained incremental reductions in all-cause mortality, cardiovascular-related mortality, and first cardiovascular hospitalization. The findings support the importance of early and continuous long-term treatment with acoramidis in transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy.
Dr. Roxana Mehran was appointed President of the American College of Cardiology, focusing on innovation, equity, and global collaboration to advance cardiovascular care. She aims to improve heart health for all through partnerships with major organizations.
Dr. Roxana Mehran begins a one-year term as president of the American College of Cardiology, leading a global organization with over 60,000 members. She aims to strengthen partnerships and foster growth, opportunity, and impact.
The new brain–heart clinical practice guideline provides a holistic approach to managing chronic diseases by integrating neurologic and mental health evidence with cardiovascular guidance. The guideline aims to improve the management of patients with concurrent brain and heart diseases, which often co-occur and share similar risk factors.
Dr. Renuka Jain has been appointed as the new chair of the American College of Cardiology Board of Governors, a role that will empower governors and strengthen Chapter foundations. Her priorities include setting up governors for success, strengthening advocacy at state and national levels, and creating leadership pipelines.
The SPIRIT-HF trial found that spironolactone did not improve outcomes in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF). The study also raised safety concerns about the use of spironolactone in older patients with heart failure.
The ORBITA-CTO trial found that angioplasty reduced angina episodes and improved quality-of-life scores in patients with chronic total occlusion. Patients who received CTO angioplasty were four times more likely to experience improved angina scores, with a significant reduction in angina-free days.
Patients who received temporary heart pump had almost double the risk of dying from a cardiovascular event compared to those receiving standard care. The study found no evidence that the device protected the heart during the angioplasty procedure.
Patients with atrial fibrillation have a higher risk of adverse cardiovascular events, including stroke, heart attack, and cardiac arrest. Serum neurofilament light chain levels can serve as a biomarker for cardiovascular risk in these patients.
A novel minimally invasive method for determining fatty deposits in coronary arteries restricting blood flow has produced similar outcomes to conventional FFR, according to a European randomized trial. The technique, called vessel FFR, uses computer analysis of three-dimensional images to calculate blood-flow restriction severity.
A Phase 2 trial found significant benefits for patients with poor prognosis and limited options, including improved six-minute walking distance and right heart function, and a lower rate of clinical worsening events. Sotatercept reduced pulmonary vascular resistance and showed a favorable safety profile.
A minimally invasive procedure using a clip to repair the valve significantly reduced heart failure hospitalizations by 40% in patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation. The study, presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session, showed improved long-term outcomes without crossover between treatment groups.
A minimally invasive procedure to insert a new valve showed lower one-year event rates for death or disabling stroke compared to traditional repeat mitral valve replacement surgery. The study found that transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve (mVIV) reduced in-hospital deaths, acute kidney injury, and life-threatening bleeding complications.
Extended low-dose apixaban effectively reduced symptomatic superficial vein thrombosis (SuVT) risk. Patients with enduring risk factors for SuVT benefited from this anticoagulation strategy.
A novel software-based method combines AI to evaluate plaque restriction in coronary arteries, producing similar clinical outcomes as the gold standard wire-based procedure. The FFRangio technique eliminated additional procedural steps and was faster to perform.
A new study led by NYU Langone Health finds that combining advanced imaging tests can identify the underlying cause of heart attacks in most patients without blocked arteries. The research used coronary optical coherence tomography (OCT) and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to reveal a likely cause in 79 percent of patients.
A small study found mavacamten significantly improved left ventricular outflow tract gradient and symptoms in adolescents with obstructive HCM. The treatment may also reverse some heart damage and favorably remodel the heart, suggesting potential benefits for children diagnosed with the disease.
The PRO-TAVI study found that older, high-risk patients can safely defer percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) until after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), with comparable outcomes between the two groups. Omitting PCI before TAVR did not increase the risk of death, heart attack, stroke, or moderate to severe bleeding.
The study found that women with pregnancy-associated spontaneous coronary artery dissection (P-SCAD) have a higher risk of cardiovascular events, including dissections and aneurysms. Women with P-SCAD also experienced less recovery in left ventricular ejection fraction compared to those without P-SCAD.
The EMPEROR-Preserved risk model demonstrated good performance in the FINEARTS-HF trial, showing that baseline risk does not modify the relative treatment effect of finerenone. Finerenone has been shown to have a significant benefit for heart failure patients.
A post hoc analysis found that tirzepatide was associated with a lower incidence of a broad composite cardiovascular and kidney endpoint. The study compared tirzepatide with dulaglutide in patients with diabetes and established cardiovascular disease.
The MOMENTUM study found that 27% of patients with resistant hypertension have hypercortisolism, a condition characterized by elevated cortisol levels. This finding suggests that hypercortisolism may be an underlying cause of resistant hypertension, which impacts nearly 10 million patients in the US.
A post hoc analysis of the Finerenone Trial reveals that sudden death in heart failure was often preceded by modest worsening of symptoms and declining quality of life. The study suggests limited specificity for sudden death among other modes of death, implying a complex trajectory before modes of death.
In high-risk patients without known significant atherosclerosis and with diabetes, evolocumab significantly reduced the risk of a first major cardiovascular event. The study found that evolocumab was effective in preventing cardiovascular events in these patient populations.
The new guideline focuses on lowering elevated LDL cholesterol levels and emphasizes the importance of earlier screenings, especially for those with a family history of heart disease. It also encourages more personalized risk estimations to support shared decision-making between clinicians and patients.
A £43M EU-funded initiative, COMPASS, aims to detect heart-related risks in cancer patients and survivors using innovative medical and digital technologies. The project will develop AI-powered clinical pathways to enhance cardiotoxicity detection, safer treatment, and better long-term cardiovascular outcomes.
Research suggests living in areas with high levels of transportation noise is associated with a significantly higher risk of major adverse cardiac events. Loud road, aviation, and rail noises were linked to increased risks of heart attack, stroke, or coronary revascularization. Different types of noise may come with unique health risks...
Nine medical societies endorse 'ALARA+' safety framework to minimize radiation exposure and orthopedic strain in fluoroscopy labs, aiming to ensure safer environments, equipment, and care. The new standard aims to reduce occupational harms affecting healthcare staff, including chronic pain and spinal conditions.
A study found that high screen time and low physical activity are strongly linked with cardiovascular risk among young adults. Screen time was independently associated with markers of cardiovascular risk, even after accounting for differences in daily physical activity.
A study analyzing monthly temperatures and cardiovascular deaths found that cold weather accounted for about 6.3% of all cardiovascular deaths, resulting in 800,000 excess deaths over two decades. The research highlights the need for communities to prepare for climate change's impact on extreme cold.
A study found that Medicare beneficiaries with heart disease reported less cost-related medication non-adherence after new provisions limited out-of-pocket drug costs. This decrease was particularly notable among low-income seniors, who saw a significant reduction in skipped or delayed doses.
A new 4D digital heart model has been shown to improve patient outcomes in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) for heart failure. The model, developed at the University of Calgary, enables personalized pacemaker placement, leading to a 10.8% increase in heart function compared to standard care.
Children with metabolically healthy obesity at treatment initiation have an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Reduction in BMI z score is associated with reduced cardiometabolic risk, suggesting treatment should be recommended for these children as well.
A Korea University study reveals that liver metabolic disease is a key risk factor for heart failure in older adults with atrial fibrillation, with MASLD having the lowest risk and ALD carrying the highest risk. The study highlights the importance of liver health in cardiovascular disease management.
Researchers found that a novel blood biomarker, neurofilament light chain, is associated with long-term cognitive function in survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. In contrast, neuron-specific enolase levels were not linked to cognitive impairment. Early measurement of neurofilament light chain may help identify patients at high...
A study by European Society of Cardiology found that AI-based ECG interpretation outperformed standard pathways in detecting occlusive myocardial infarction (MI) without ST elevation. The AI tool correctly identified obstructive MI in 84% of cases, with high sensitivity and specificity rates.
The 2020 facility revision criteria for rotational atherectomy did not increase adverse events among patients treated for coronary artery disease. The expansion of RA eligibility to low-volume, non-training hospitals improved patient care and reduced geographical disparities.
Researchers developed a new multiview DNN structure to capture complex 3D anatomy and physiology from multiple imaging views, improving diagnostic accuracy for cardiovascular conditions. The approach demonstrated better performance than single-view DNNs and provided a viable alternative for other medical imaging modalities.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a high-quality diet, moderate exercise, and low alcohol consumption, was associated with lower cardiometabolic disease risk. The study found that adhering to these healthy behaviors reduced the risk of major cardiometabolic diseases independent of medication use.
Consuming ultra-processed foods daily is associated with a higher risk of adverse cardiac events, particularly among Black Americans. The study found that each additional serving increases the risk by over 5%, with Black Americans seeing an amplified risk compared to other racial groups.
The RESIL-Card tool helps hospital cardiovascular professionals and stakeholders assess and strengthen care pathways, ensuring continuity of care during crises. The tool offers a structured self-assessment framework, identifying concrete actions to maintain care continuity and patient safety.
A new RNA therapy has been developed to enhance the heart's own ability to protect and repair itself after a heart attack. The therapy, which involves injecting particles into the arm, significantly reduced scarring and improved heart function in lab experiments, offering a potential breakthrough for heart patients.
A 16-year study found that 87% of children with single-ventricle heart disease either died or developed a major health problem over time. The study provides new direction for improving care and offers guidance for tailoring therapies to each child.
A large cohort study found that people using anticholinergic medications, commonly prescribed for urinary incontinence and anxiety, have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The cumulative use of these drugs was associated with an increased risk of heart failure and arrhythmias.