Higher niacin levels linked to lower cardiovascular risk, but not in those with diabetes
December 03 ,2024
Overview:Higher intake of dietary niacin decreased the risk for all-cause mortality and cardiovascular-related death, according to results of a retrospective cohort study published in Scientific Reports.However, researchers reported a steeper reduction in the risk for death in adults without diabetes.Niacin, or vitamin B3, is common in Western diets, “with many individuals consuming niacin levels far exceeding the recommended dietary allowance, particularly in the U.S. where intake surpasses the recommended dietary allowance by threefold,” Ling Lin, from Chongqing University in China, and more
Fear of recurrence consistent source of stress for heart attack survivors
December 03 ,2024
Overview:CHICAGO — Survivors of an acute MI reported fear of a recurrence up to 8 months later, along with high levels of perceived stress that were distinct from depression and anxiety symptoms, researchers reported.“Fear of recurrence is a significant mental health issue in post-heart attack survivors,” Sarah E. Zvonar, PhD, RN, CCRN, a postdoctoral researcher at Indiana University, told Healio. “Fear of recurrence was shown in this study to have a relationship with perceived stress. This study found that fear of recurrence and the relationship with perceived stress was still more
Immune checkpoint inhibitors for advanced lung cancer linked to higher blood clot risk
December 03 ,2024
Overview:Treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors appeared linked with higher risk for venous thromboembolism among adults with metastatic lung cancer, according to study results presented at CHEST Annual Meeting.In addition, adults who received immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) that target PD-1 — such as cemiplimab (Libtayo, Regeneron), nivolumab (Opdivo, Bristol Myers Squibb) or pembrolizumab (Keytruda, Merck) — exhibited higher risk for pulmonary embolism than those who received ICIs that target PD-L1, such as atezolizumab (Tecentriq, Genentech) or durvalumab (Imfinzi, more
CV risks vary based on menopausal hormone therapy combinations, administration methods
December 02 ,2024
Overview:Cardiovascular disease risks vary depending on the type of menopausal hormone therapy combinations and administration methods used, according to a nationwide trial published in The BMJ.“Experimental studies have shown that estrogen plays a protective role in cardiovascular health by promoting angiogenesis and vasodilation, reducing cardiac fibrosis and oxidative stress and increasing high density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations,” Therese Johansson, MD, postdoctoral researcher in the department of immunology, genetics and pathology at SciLifeLab and the Centre for Women’s more
Q&A: ‘We can do better’ preventing, managing sudden cardiac death among US athletes
December 02 ,2024
Overview:Sudden cardiac death among athletes, both recreational and master level, remains a public health issue, disparately affecting players of certain sports and athlete demographics, researchers reported.On behalf of the American College of Cardiology Sports and Exercise Leadership Council, Jonathan H. Kim, MD, council chair and director of sports cardiology and associate professor of medicine in the division of cardiology at Emory University, and colleagues conducted an expansive review of contemporary trends in incidence of sudden cardiac death among athletes.In the review, published in The more
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis at higher risk for ‘avoidable’ hospitalization
November 27 ,2024
Overview:WASHINGTON — Patients with rheumatoid arthritis demonstrate an elevated risk for avoidable hospitalizations, particularly for cardiovascular complications, compared with healthy controls, according to data presented at ACR Convergence 2024.“Despite the very time sensitive requirement for early diagnosis of RA, there are system-level gaps that remain,” Dani Contreras, MD, of the University of Calgary, Alberta, told attendees. “These gaps can result in uncontrolled disease activity and can lead to complications that require acute care use that would otherwise be avoidable.” more
Control over clinical work linked to physician burnout, intent to leave practice
November 27 ,2024
Overview:Less perceived control over clinical work was associated with increased physician burnout and intent to reduce clinical hours or leave their practice, according to research published in Annals of Internal Medicine.A physician’s perception of control over their clinical work is thought to be linked to career intentions and burnout, Christine A. Sinsky, MD, vice president of professional satisfaction at the AMA, and colleagues wrote. But over the last few decades, physicians’ influence and control over their workload and care environment has declined.“This trend has been more
Personality traits, lifestyle behaviors affect CVD risk in patients with type 2 diabetes
November 27 ,2024
Overview:The personality traits of patients with type 2 diabetes, particularly diligence, may impact their risk for cardiovascular disease, according to findings published in BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care.Results further showed individuals with low diligence were more likely to have unhealthy lifestyle behaviors that impact CVD risk, whereas healthy lifestyle behaviors protected against CVD.Type 2 diabetes is one of the most prevalent and critical risk factors for CVD, according to the researchers. Previous studies have highlighted the role of personality traits and their impact on more
Lesbian, gay, bisexual veterans face higher odds for prevalent ASCVD vs. straight peers
November 27 ,2024
Overview:Lesbian, gay and bisexual U.S. veterans had significantly higher odds for prevalent atherosclerotic CVD compared with their heterosexual peers, according to findings published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.“Sexual minority adults experience inequities in ASCVD risk and outcomes compared with heterosexual peers,” Carl G. Streed Jr., MD, MPH, associate professor of medicine in the section of general internal medicine at Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine and research lead for the GenderCare Center at Boston Medical Center, and colleagues more
Insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia may predict aortic stenosis in men
November 27 ,2024
Overview:Hyperinsulinemia and/or insulin resistance biomarkers, such as fasting, plasma insulin and proinsulin, predicted aortic stenosis, independent of other cardiovascular risk factors, according to study results published in Annals of Medicine.“Presumably, several factors interact with the initiation and progression of the disease in the pathogenesis of aortic stenosis,” Johanna Kuusisto, MD, chief physician at Kuopio University Hospital and professor of medicine at the University of Eastern Finland, in Kuopio, Finland, and colleagues wrote. “To find a means for early prevention more
Novel injectable agent lowers Lp(a) by more than 80% at 36 weeks
November 26 ,2024
Overview:CHICAGO — Zerlasiran, a novel injectable small interfering RNA molecule, lowered lipoprotein(a) by more than 80% compared with placebo at 36 weeks, according to the results of the ALPACAR trial.The phase 2 ALPACAR trial, results of which were presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions and simultaneously published in JAMA, included 178 patients (mean age, 63.7 years; 25.8% women) with an Lp(a) concentration of at least 125 mmol/L (median, 213 mmol/L) and stable atherosclerotic CVD who were randomly assigned to placebo or one of three regimens of zerlasiran, formerly more
GLP-1s ‘could play an important role’ in slowing kidney, heart disease progression
November 26 ,2024
Overview:GLP-1 receptor agonists improved clinical outcomes related to kidney and heart health while lowering mortality rates for individuals with diabetes, chronic kidney disease or preexisting cardiovascular disease with overweight or obesity.“GLP-1 receptor agonists not only lower blood glucose levels and body weight, but also have kidney-protective and heart-protective benefits,” Sunil V. Badve, MBBS, MD, PhD, FRACP, professorial fellow at The George Institute for Global Health and the University of New South Wales in Sydney, told Healio. “GLP-1 receptor agonists could play an more
‘Please talk about it’: Patients with heart disease want more guidance on sexual health
November 26 ,2024
Overview:CHICAGO — Results from a new survey highlight a gap between patients’ information needs about sexual health and the actual support provided by health care professionals.In a small survey of patients with CVD in Sweden, 78% expressed a need for information about sexual health, but only 5% reported receiving this information.“A large number of patients, independent of age and gender, really feel that their condition is [affecting] their sexual health and that they currently do not get enough information and support,” Tiny Jaarsma, PhD, professor of nursing at Linköping more
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy tied to risk for nonobstructive, earlier heart attacks
November 26 ,2024
Overview:Women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy history were more likely to experience coronary artery disease years earlier and have a greater risk for myocardial infarction with both obstructive and nonobstructive coronary arteries.“Women with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) were, on average, 7 years younger than normotensive women at the time of myocardial infarction (MI). Based on the analysis of their coronary angiograms, they had higher rates of MI due to both obstructive and nonobstructive coronary arteries,” Vesna D. Garovic, MD, PhD, FAHA, FASN, more
Breast calcification on mammogram ‘especially predictive’ of CVD risk in younger women
November 26 ,2024
Overview:Breast arterial calcification seen on routine mammograms, especially among younger women, is associated with increased risk for death and adverse cardiovascular outcomes, including heart failure, myocardial infarction and stroke, data show.“There is a lot of information residing within women's mammograms that is currently sitting around, unused,” Lori B. Daniels, MD, MAS, cardiologist and medical director of the cardiovascular intensive care unit at UC San Diego Health, told Healio. “Since most women over age 40 years get annual mammograms, this is information that is more
Topline results: Winrevair lowers risk for mortality in patients with advanced PAH
November 26 ,2024
Overview:Adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension functional class three or four faced a decreased risk for all-cause mortality or morbidity events with Winrevair vs. placebo, according to phase 3 ZENITH trial topline results.Morbidity events included lung transplantation or hospitalization related to disease worsening of at least 24 hours, according to a Merck press release.“This is the second positive phase 3 trial for Winrevair and adds to the growing body of evidence for Winrevair in PAH,” a Merck spokesperson told Healio. “These findings are impressive and support the more
Elevated CVD risk with type 2 diabetes may be traceable to diabetes development factors
November 25 ,2024
Overview:People with type 2 diabetes had twice the number of CVD events vs. matched counterparts, with events starting 3 decades before diagnosis, suggesting their elevated CVD risk may be attributable to factors tied to diabetes development.“Although a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes predicts an increase in CVD risk, the extent to which this association is explained by underlying conditions associated with the development of type 2 diabetes ... rather than by type 2 diabetes itself, remains unclear,” Christine Gyldenkerne, MD, PhD student in the department of cardiology and the department of more
Acoramidis approved to reduce CV death, hospitalization for cardiac amyloidosis
November 25 ,2024
Overview:BridgeBio Pharma announced that acoramidis, its small molecule stabilizer of transthyretin, has been approved by the FDA for the reduction of CV death and hospitalization in patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy.Acoramidis (Attruby) is the first treatment for transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) with a label specifying that it achieves near-complete stabilization of transthyretin, according to a press release issued by the company.The approval was based on the results of the ATTRibute-CM trial, according to the release. As Healio previously reported, in ATTRibute-CM, more
VIDEO: Transient monocular vision loss may signal impending stroke
November 24 ,2024
Overview:CHICAGO — In this Healio Video Perspective from the AAO meeting, Alexander S. Fein, MD, of Doheny Eye Institute and Stein Eye Institute at UCLA, discusses managing patients with transient monocular vision loss.According to Fein, transient monocular vision loss can be of a vascular origin and may be a sign of an impending stroke.“You need to find out what their A1c is, see if they have diabetes, find out what their lipid panel is, their blood pressure and make sure that they have all these under control,” he said. “You should see this as an opportunity to prevent future more
‘Truly alarming’: Life expectancy gap in the US now up to 20 years
November 22 ,2024
Overview:The life expectancy gap in the United States widened to over 20 years in the last 2 decades, with significant variations in life expectancy across diverse populations, study results published in The Lancet revealed.Certain populations, including American Indian or Alaska Native individuals, saw declines in life expectancy due to health care barriers that “require immediate action,” the researchers wrote.“The extent and magnitude of health disparities in American society are truly alarming in a country with the wealth and resources of the [U.S.],” Christopher J.L. more
Hello world!
February 04 ,2021
Overview:Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing! The post Hello world! appeared first on World Heart Federation. more
WHF to attend the WHO Executive Board meeting in January 2017
January 23 ,2017
Overview:From 23 January to 01 February 2017, the World Health Organization(WHO) will host the 140th session. From 23 January to 01 February 2017, the World Health Organization(WHO) will host the […] more