A new study suggests that semaglutide reduces heart disease risk beyond just weight loss, but the exact mechanism is unclear. The study analyzed data from a clinical trial of semaglutide, which found that patients taking the drug had a 20% lower risk of heart disease, but only half of this reduction could be explained by changes in kno...
A new trial has found that implanting an ICD in patients with mild-to-moderate heart dysfunction can reduce sudden cardiac death, particularly in younger patients. This breakthrough has the potential to save lives and expand treatment options for patients who previously were not eligible for ICDs.
A new meta-analysis of 114,000+ participants found that low-dose omega-3 supplementation is not associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation, even among individuals at elevated cardiovascular risk. In contrast, high-dose prescription therapies may modestly increase AF risk in these patients.
Researchers at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences have developed an artificial model of the mitral heart valve that faithfully mimics its complex mechanical behavior. The study could help researchers better understand valve disease and develop new treatment approaches.
Researchers discovered a low dose of digoxin reduces heart failure-related deaths and hospitalizations by 19% and 25% respectively, making it an inexpensive and safe treatment option.
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.
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.
A new trial found that using a microaxial flow pump before and during cardiac stenting procedures for high-risk heart attack patients with severe heart attacks did not reduce heart damage. The study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, also showed increased bleeding complications.
A new study finds that adults with prediabetes and hypertension who have subclinical heart injury or stress are at increased risk of heart failure. The study highlights an at-risk population that can be identified using common cardiac biomarkers and emphasizes the importance of preventive care.
Smartwatches with PPG and ECG functionality improve atrial fibrillation detection, detecting it four times more often than standard care. Researchers detected heart arrhythmia in 21 patients using smartwatches compared to five in those receiving standard care after six months of monitoring.
Researchers at GIMM discovered lab-grown heart cells are stuck in an immature stage, failing to replicate human heart characteristics. A new reference map provides a benchmark for assessing cell development, enabling more accurate disease models and effective treatments.
A new study found that current cardiac screening tools are not optimal and fail to identify half the people who are at risk of having a heart attack. The researchers assessed the accuracy of widely used tools, including ASCVD and PREVENT calculators, and found that nearly half of patients would not have been recommended for preventive ...
Researchers analyzed insurance claims data from US health insurers to demonstrate the cardiovascular benefits of semaglutide and tirzepatide. Both GLP-1 drugs provide cardioprotective effects, reducing the risk of stroke and heart attack by 18% and 13%, respectively.
Research presented at the European Emergency Medicine Congress finds that doctors and nurses are more accurate than AI in triaging patients in emergency departments. While AI showed some promise in flagging critical cases, its overall accuracy was lower than clinicians' across most metrics.
The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions calls for Medicaid payment parity, fairer valuation of CHD procedures, and new compensation models to support care for children and adults with congenital heart disease. This policy statement aims to improve outcomes by addressing economic inequities in the healthcare system.
A study of 676 patients who experienced out-of-hospital cardiac arrest found that neurological outcomes were similar regardless of socioeconomic background. However, lower-income areas had lower bystander CPR rates, suggesting disparities in pre-hospital care.
Patients with atrial fibrillation who live in neighborhoods with poor access to full-service grocery stores face sharply higher odds of stroke and death. Food desert residence is linked to a 2.21-times higher risk of ischemic stroke and a 3.84-times higher risk of death over five years.
An AI algorithm can detect early changes in the heart's structure from an ECG, predicting patients at risk of significant leaks in the heart's valves. The technology shows promise for transforming doctors' approach to treating heart valve disease and improving patient outcomes.
Researchers highlight a significant gap in detecting symptoms and preventive measures before myocardial infarctions, with distinct differences found between age groups and genders.
The collaboration aims to co-develop new treatment paradigms and accelerate innovation in cardiac care, with a focus on Asian populations. The partnership will create opportunities for breakthrough research, knowledge exchange, and training for healthcare professionals.
Research led by Amsterdam UMC reveals the hearts of female elite athletes have different characteristics compared to their male counterparts. Female athletes exhibit dilation of the heart chambers, whereas males show thickening in combination with a dilation of the heart muscle. This finding can aid doctors in identifying possible hear...
Researchers at Hiroshima University find that Porphyromonas gingivalis can infiltrate the heart and drive scar tissue buildup, raising the risk of atrial fibrillation. The study provides evidence that periodontitis may be contributing to the surge in AFib cases globally.
Researchers at University of East Anglia developed 4D flow MRI scan to diagnose aortic stenosis more accurately and reliably than current ultrasound techniques. The technology offers more accurate measurements of blood flow through heart valves, leading to better prediction of when patients need surgery.
Researchers discovered a promising new approach to treating hemorrhagic shock, which tripled survival rates and maintained healthy organ function. Activating Protein Kinase C epsilon (PKC-ε) significantly improved early survival rates and physiological stability following severe hemorrhage.
The Society for Vascular Medicine identifies top research priorities for peripheral artery disease (PAD) to reduce incidence and improve health outcomes. The report aims to accelerate discovery and inform funding agencies about high-priority topics in epidemiology, basic science, clinical research, and implementation studies.
The CHLA team has demonstrated the possibility of using genetically engineered pig hearts as a 'bridge' to heart transplant for critically ill babies. Eight baboons have survived with a pig heart, with one living for nearly 21 months.
The International Society for Health and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) has re-launched the Global IMACS Registry to collect data on patients with durable mechanical circulatory support devices. The registry aims to advance MCS therapy and improve patient outcomes globally.
A new AI model will analyze combined data from calcium-scoring CT scans, clinical risk factors, and demographics to identify high-risk patients. The project aims to accurately predict cardiovascular events, including heart failure, and provide personalized treatment options.
A recent Lancet review highlights racial disparities in sudden cardiac arrest and death among athletes, with Black athletes facing a significantly higher risk. The study emphasizes the need for increased research into social determinants of health and adequate pre-participation evaluation to mitigate these disparities.
The Emory University Hospital team successfully implanted the BrioVAD System, a novel magnetically levitated pump designed for patient ease and long-term health. This marks the first-time use of the device in the US, as part of the INNOVATE clinical trial.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet discovered that patients with heart pumps can regenerate heart muscle cells at a rate more than six times higher than in healthy hearts, offering new hope for therapies to stimulate the heart's ability to repair itself after damage.
TU Graz researcher Gerhard A. Holzapfel leads a six-year project to develop AI-based methods for analyzing soft tissue mechanical properties using transcriptomics and microstructure imaging. The team aims to improve disease diagnosis and therapy in clinical practice.
Light ex-smokers experience a CVD risk reduction similar to never-smokers within years of smoking cessation. Heavy ex-smokers require longer periods, up to 25 years, for their residual CVD risk to align with that of never-smokers.
Researchers have identified hundreds of genes and microproteins specific to human hearts, which are also abnormally expressed in heart failure. These findings provide new insights into cardiac disease and suggest potential targets for therapy.
Researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University developed a new scoring model using prehospital resuscitation data to predict neurological outcomes of patients with OHCA. The R-EDByUS score achieved high precision, enabling healthcare providers to make quick and accurate decisions upon hospital arrival.
Researchers at UAB have developed a method to assess cardiac dynamics in fruit flies using deep learning and high-speed video microscopy. The study uses this approach to analyze the effects of aging and dilated cardiomyopathy on heart function, with potential applications for human cardiovascular research.
Researchers at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine will investigate how injured heart cells communicate with other cells throughout the body using microvesicles known as exosomes. The study aims to understand how specific molecules, such as microRNAs, facilitate communication pathways between cells in the heart and vasculature.
A study comparing human hearts to those of great apes has found that the human heart is more streamlined due to higher demands for blood flow and thermal regulation. This suggests that human hearts may have evolved differently from their primate ancestors in response to unique ecological pressures.
Researchers compared human hearts with those of great apes, discovering a more compact muscle structure in humans, related to greater cardiac function. This finding supports the hypothesis that human heart evolved to meet higher demands of human physiology, such as larger brain size and physical activity.
A new study reveals that zebrafish have a unique ability to remove scar tissue after an injury, allowing their hearts to regenerate and fully regrow. Researchers found that the type of collagen cross-linking in zebrafish is different from mammals, making it potentially reversible. The discovery points to a new target for reversing scar...
A meta-analysis of seven randomized trials found that transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has comparable long-term safety and efficacy to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). However, TAVR was associated with an increased likelihood of needing a pacemaker and moderate-to-severe paravalvular leaks.
The REACTIVA project aims to establish a new strategy for cardiac regeneration based on reactivating the heart's dormant endogenous mechanism. Researchers will investigate the role of diploid adult cardiomyocytes in cardiac regeneration and use this knowledge to induce their activation.
Researchers develop method to preserve donor hearts for more than 24 hours, a major improvement over current six-hour time window. The new approach uses normothermic ex-vivo heart perfusion and has shown strong improvements in extending the shelf-life of donor hearts.
Scientists created a human heart organoid system to simulate embryonic heart development under pregestational diabetes-like conditions. The organoids recapitulate hallmarks of the condition and showed that ER stress and lipid imbalance contribute to the disorders. Exposure to omega-3s ameliorated the effects.
A biorobotic heart with a silicone robotic pump system can mimic the structure and function of a healthy or diseased heart. The device allows surgeons and researchers to demonstrate various interventions while collecting real-time data, bridging gaps between current simulators and animal studies.
A Learning Health System model is being developed to increase organ donation and reduce disparities in access to transplantation. The project, led by Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute, will use data tools to track progress and improve equity in organ donation across the US.
A study by USF Health doctors reveals that reducing mitochondrial protein translation can promote cardiomyocyte proliferation and heart regeneration. This finding holds promise for developing new treatments for heart disease and regrowing damaged hearts.
Researchers create a new, multi-chamber organoid model of the human heart, enabling them to advance screening platforms for drug development, toxicology studies, and understanding heart development. The model reveals intricate communication between chambers and provides insight into early heart development.
Researchers at CNIC reveal the essential role of neuregulin-1 in transforming the delicate primordial heart structure into a powerful pumping organ. The study sheds light on the pathways of human heart formation and suggests new strategies for heart health and regenerative medicine.
A team of researchers compared the development of blood vessels in various animals, including mice, quails, and fish, to understand the origins of the human heart. They found that the structure of the human coronary arteries likely evolved from a common amniote ancestor, adapting to life on land.
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 pilot study reveals microplastics in heart tissue samples from patients undergoing cardiac surgery, with evidence suggesting direct introduction during procedures. The findings suggest various microplastics can accumulate and persist in the heart's innermost tissues.
A miniature human heart model, approximately half a grain of rice in size, has been developed to transform drug testing and cardiovascular research. This self-paced, multi-chambered model provides real-time measurements of essential parameters, enabling unprecedented insights into heart function and diseases.
Researchers at Harvard developed a fiber-infused ink that allows 3D-printed heart muscle cells to align and contract like human heart cells, enabling the creation of functional heart ventricles. The innovation can be used to build life-like heart tissues with thicker muscle walls, paving the way for regenerative therapeutics.
Researchers at UNC School of Medicine identified molecular pathways critical for heart development, revealing that the mevalonate pathway regulates embryonic heart cell cycling and signaling molecules. This study provides a foundational data set to identify biological causes of congenital heart disease.
The Texas Heart Institute and The University of Texas at Austin receive a four-year, $2.37 million NIH grant to develop injectable hydrogel electrodes for preventing and managing ventricular arrhythmias. Researchers have already demonstrated the feasibility of pacing the heart using the hydrogel in a porcine model.
A nationwide study found that more experienced resident physicians are at risk of medical errors when working extended-duration shifts or long weekly hours, similar to first-year residents. The study calls for policy changes to limit work hours and extend safer training periods in the US.
A WPI researcher is leading a three-year project to investigate the effects of stretching and blood flow on cardiovascular cells in tissue-engineered heart valves. The project aims to expand understanding of mechanical forces that propel cells in the body, with potential applications in other fields like cancer and wound healing.
Researchers at TUM have developed a method to create mini-hearts in Petri dishes using stem cells. The resulting organoids mimic the earliest stages of human heart development and can be used to investigate congenital heart defects, potentially leading to new treatment methods.