US hospitalizations for Chagas heart disease, caused by ‘kissing bugs,’ on the rise
October 19 ,2021
Overview:The incidence of Chagas cardiomyopathy in the U.S. increased from 2002 to 2017, particularly among individuals who emigrated from Central and South America, and was associated with risk for arrhythmia and HF, researchers reported.According to a prior report published in Circulation in 2016, Chagas disease is caused by a parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi, which is transmitted by biting insects called triatomine bugs or “kissing bugs.”According to the CDC, kissing bugs are nocturnal insects typically found in the southern U.S., Mexico, Central America and South America that feed on more
New nutrient profiling system grades healthfulness of foods
October 19 ,2021
Overview:Researchers have developed a novel nutrient profiling system that grades the healthfulness and harmfulness of foods based on their nutrients, ingredients, processing characteristics, phytochemicals and additives.The Food Compass system offers a broader range of characteristics than other profiling systems in order to better guide patients, physicians and policymakers, according to the team that created it. Dariush Mozaffarian, BS, MD, MPH, DrPH, a cardiologist and dean of the Friedman School at Tufts University, and colleagues designed the tool to evolve as future evidence emerges on the more
Digital app helps adults achieve sustained BP reduction
October 19 ,2021
Overview:A hypertension self-management program using a digital app was associated with BP reductions at 1 year, according to results published in JAMA Network Open.The researchers conducted a cohort study of 28,189 U.S. participants (median age, 51 years; 40% women) with elevated BP or hypertension who used the self-management program consisting of a BP monitor, a connected smartphone app and clinically based digital coaching (Hello Heart program, Hello Heart) via employer-sponsored coverage.“Hello Heart has a unique design that empowers patients for blood pressure self-monitoring,” more
Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation associated with increased AF risk
October 19 ,2021
Overview:Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation, especially at higher doses, was associated with elevated risk for atrial fibrillation, according to a meta-analysis of various large-scale randomized controlled trials published in Circulation.“Marine omega-3 fatty acid supplements may have a beneficial effect on the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular events; however, concerns have also been raised regarding potential off-target adverse effects on atrial fibrillation,” Baris Gencer, MD, MPH, from the division of cardiology at Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, and the Institute of Primary more
COVID-19-related perceptions, stress impact lung and heart health in Black adults
October 18 ,2021
Overview:Worse COVID-19 perceptions and related stress were associated with worse clinical outcomes — in particular, declines in lung and heart health — among Black adults who report smoking, according to data presented at the CHEST Annual Meeting.Navjot Kaur, MD, and colleagues conducted a single-center study to assess the relationship between self-reported COVID-19-related perceptions and stress with changes in lung and heart health metrics including FEV1 and blood pressure in the year preceding the pandemic (March 2019-March 15, 2020) compared with during the pandemic (March 16, more
Premature CVD death more frequent in ‘socially vulnerable’ counties
October 18 ,2021
Overview:CVD death in people younger than 65 years was elevated in U.S. counties with a high social vulnerability index, according to new data published in Circulation.“There is compelling research suggesting that social factors — apart from medical conditions — play a more important role in health than previously thought,” Khurram Nasir, MD, MPH, MSc, chief of cardiovascular prevention and wellness at Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center and co-director of the Center for Outcomes Research at Houston Methodist, said in a press release. “Emerging studies more
Perception of discrimination common among cardiologists
October 18 ,2021
Overview:More than 50% of cardiologists from historically underrepresented racial or ethnic groups reported experiencing discrimination during their career, according to results from a survey.In addition, women were more likely than men to report experiencing discrimination, according to the 2015 American College of Cardiology Professional Life Survey, which was conducted by the ACC Diversity & Inclusion Task Force and the ACC Women in Cardiology Section and published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.“Despite calls for racial and ethnic diversification in medicine or more
FDA announces 510(k) clearance of photon-counting CT imaging device
October 18 ,2021
Overview:The FDA has granted 510(k) clearance to Siemens Medical Solutions Inc. for the Siemens Naeotom Alpha, a new advancement in diagnostic CT imaging, according to a company press release.The Naeotom Alpha is designed with photon-counting technology, which uses individual X-ray photons to provide physicians and trained staff with detailed information to aid in the diagnosis, treatment and planning of radiation therapy, according to the release.“Computed tomography is an important medical imaging tool that can aid in diagnosing disease, trauma or abnormality; planning and guiding more
Monitoring, early intervention crucial for preventing CVD in type 1 diabetes
October 18 ,2021
Overview:People with type 1 diabetes have an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and providers should use a multifaceted approach to reduce CVD risk, according to a presenter at the Cardiometabolic Health Congress.“The importance of managing CVD and CVD risk in patients with type 1 diabetes is a real component of comprehensive diabetes care,” Bernard Zinman, OC, MDCM, FRCP, FACP, senior scientist at Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, and professor of medicine at the University of Toronto, said during a presentation. “We need to think about CV risk in more
Coronary calcium serves as ‘iceberg in the water’ when evaluating ASCVD risk
October 17 ,2021
Overview:Although various studies have established the prognostic value of coronary artery calcium scoring for predicting atherosclerotic risk, some current models do not take coronary calcium into account, a speaker reported.“One of the problems that we have, even with the new pooled risk equation, is that it overestimates risk,” Matthew Budoff, MD, director of cardiovascular CT at The Lundquist Institute and professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, said during a presentation at the Cardiometabolic Health Congress. “You would have to say that it performs more
Physical activity crucial for lowering CV risk, maintaining weight loss
October 16 ,2021
Overview:Regular physical activity is a critical part of maintaining weight loss, and providers should explore different methods to motivate their patients to be more active, according to three speakers at the Cardiometabolic Health Congress.“In our current environment, it is impossible for a population to have low rates of physical activity and low rates of obesity,” James O. Hill, PhD, professor and chair of the department of nutritional sciences and director of the Nutrition Obesity Research Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said during the presentation. “If we’re more
Low-fat diet confers less energy intake vs. low carb, opposite of prior predictive models
October 16 ,2021
Overview:Contrary to prior models, a plant-based, low-fat diet was associated with less ad libitum energy intake compared with an animal-based, low-carbohydrate diet, for reasons still unclear, a speaker reported.According to a presentation at the Cardiometabolic Health Congress, Kevin D. Hall, PhD, clinical researcher at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, cited a special communication written by David Ludwig, MD, PhD, professor of nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health, and Cara Ebbeling, PhD, associate professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, more
10 differences between evidence-based vs. internet-based keto diet teachings
October 15 ,2021
Overview:Many misconceptions about the ketogenic diet are spread on the internet, an expert told attendees at the Obesity Medicine Association fall conference.“It's confusing out there. It’s so terrible,” Eric Westman, MD, MPH, FOMA, an associate professor of medicine at Duke University and founder of the Duke Keto Medicine Clinic, said during a presentation. “I listen carefully to patients who say that ‘I'm doing this and it's not working’ and I say to them ‘I bet you've learned [how to diet] from Dr. Google’.”Westman discussed a class where he more
Q&A: Medical emoji may broaden health care communication
October 15 ,2021
Overview:In a recent editorial, researchers encouraged the normalization of medical emoji across the health care community, with the intent of providing accessible and effective means of communication to patients in the digital age.“It’s tempting to dismiss emoji as a millennial fad, the ‘textual equivalent of an adolescent grunt’,” the authors wrote. “But as a preloaded, curated, digital set of images that work across platforms — mobile, tablet, desktop; Windows, Apple iOS or Android — emoji possess the power of standardization, universality, and more
Identifying, treating pre-obesity can reduce mortality risk, improve health outcomes
October 15 ,2021
Overview:Discussing weight gain and prescribing weight loss therapies or interventions for people with a BMI of 25 kg/m2 or greater could help reduce mortality risk and slow the progression of obesity, according to a speaker.Michelle Look, MD, FAAFP, a physician in family practice and obesity medicine at the San Diego Sports Medicine and Family Health Center, said the risk for all-cause and cause-specific mortality rise when a person has “pre-obesity,” and continues to increase as a person’s BMI increases.“Pre-obesity is a BMI of 25 to 30 kg/m2, previously called overweight,” more
Lupin recalls irbesartan tablets due to possible carcinogenic contamination
October 15 ,2021
Overview:Lupin is voluntarily recalling batches of irbesartan and irbesartan/hydrochlorothiazide tablets after an analysis revealed that certain tested active pharmaceutical ingredient batches had too much N-nitrosoirbesartan.According to a company release disseminated by the FDA, despite no reports of illness associated with this issue, the company is recalling all batches of irbesartan tablets (75 mg, 150 mg and 300 mg) and irbesartan/hydrochlorothiazide tablets (150 mg/12.5 mg and 300 mg/12.5 mg) in the U.S.N-nitrosoirbesartan impurity is a probable human carcinogen, according to the release, and more
Many recent approvals, upcoming trials for lipid-lowering therapies
October 15 ,2021
Overview:In an update on FDA approvals and late-breaking trials in lipid therapies, a speaker reviewed the current and future landscapes of LDL- and triglyceride-lowering therapies.During a presentation at the Cardiometabolic Health Congress, Christie M. Ballantyne, MD, FNLA, professor of medicine, molecular and human genetics and molecular physiology and biophysics; director of the Maria and Alando J. Ballantyne, M.D. Atherosclerosis Clinical Research Laboratory; director of the Center for Cardiometabolic Disease Prevention; co-director of the Lipid Metabolism and Atherosclerosis Clinic; the J. S. more
Several beta cell receptors could explain link between COVID-19, new-onset diabetes
October 15 ,2021
Overview:SARS-CoV-2 may use ACE2 or other enzymes as a receptor to infect beta cells, providing a possible explanation behind new-onset diabetes occurring in people with COVID-19, according to a speaker.“COVID-19 results in a significant increase in new-onset diabetes,” Irl Hirsch, MD, an endocrinologist and professor of medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine, said during a presentation at the Cardiometabolic Health Congress. “The mechanisms for this are complex but appear to be related to specific beta cell toxicities, likely related from the ‘cytokine storm.’” more
Rarer causes of severe hypertriglyceridemia require specialized consideration
October 14 ,2021
Overview:While rare, certain genetic and multifactorial causes of severe hypertriglyceridemia may warrant special considerations for diagnosis and treatment within their respective patient populations, a speaker reported.“When looking at triglycerides, it's important to know that in the general population, triglycerides follow a non-normal distribution,” Rebecca J. Brown, MD, MHSc, Lasker Clinical Research Scholar at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases in Bethesda, Maryland, said during a presentation at the Cardiometabolic Health Congress.Brown cited data more
Women underrepresented in stroke trials
October 14 ,2021
Overview:Women were found to be underrepresented in clinical trials looking at stroke when compared to the prevalence of stroke among women in the disease population, according to study results published in Neurology.“There have been a few studies looking at the number of women enrolled in cardiovascular trials and whether this represents the number of women in the population with cardiovascular disease, but only two have been in stroke,” Cheryl Carcel, MD, of the George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Australia, told Healio Neurology. “For our study, we more
Optimal Antiplatelet Therapy In NSTE-ACS: Results From A Novel Crowdsourcing Survey
July 07 ,2021
Overview:The choice and duration of antiplatelet therapy in NSTE-ACS undergoing PCI is complex and is a hotly debated topic – particularly amongst patients at high bleeding risk. To gain insight into the real-world practices of a global cross-section of cardiologists, Radcliffe Medical Education, in partnership with the International Society of Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy (ISCP), undertook a novel […] more
Results of an international crowdsourcing survey on the utilisation of antiplatelet therapy in NSTE-ACS
June 09 ,2021
Overview:Choosing an antiplatelet strategy in patients with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) at high bleeding risk (HBR), undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), is complex given that one must balance the risk of thrombosis with bleeding events. Since the most recent European guidelines were published in 2020, a number of important original research articles […] 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
ACC.20/WCC Virtual continues!
April 05 ,2020
Overview:The World Heart Federation and American College of Cardiology held their first ever virtual congress March 28-30. But it’s not over. All of the ACC.20/WCC Virtual live sessions are now available on demand, along with additional videos, abstracts and slides — all for FREE. This includes Late-Breaking Clinical Trials, Featured Clinical Research, Young Investigator Awards, Keynotes, and more. All content will […] more
2020 ISCP Annual Meeting cancelled
February 26 ,2020
Overview:Notice of Cancellation We regret to have to inform our colleagues and friends that the 2020 ISCP Annual Scientific Meeting in Miami will now be cancelled. The Board of Directors of ISCP was forced to take the decision based on advice from different sources raising concern about the threat posed by the Covid-19 virus which […] more
European Cardiology Review (ECR) now on PubMed and PubMed Central
October 30 ,2018
Overview: European Cardiology Review (ECR) confirms that it has been accepted for indexing on PubMed Central and PubMed. All ECR articles starting from the first issue in July 2014, will now be published online in full on PubMed Central, providing greater access for our authors’ articles amongst the global cardiology community. ECR is a […] 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 140th session. From 23 January to 01 February 2017, the World Health Organization(WHO) will host the 140th session. From 23 January to 01 February 2017, […] more