TWILIGHT-ACS: Ticagrelor monotherapy beneficial in PCI for ACS
November 17 ,2019
Overview:PHILADELPHIA — Among patients with ACS who underwent PCI, ticagrelor monotherapy reduced bleeding risk compared with dual antiplatelet therapy, with no additional ischemic risk, according to new data from the TWILIGHT study presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions.As Healio previously reported, in the main results of TWILIGHT, switching to ticagrelor (Brilinta, AstraZeneca) monotherapy from DAPT 3 months after PCI lowered bleeding risk without raising ischemic risk.In the present TWILIGHT-ACS substudy of 5,763 patients from TWILIGHT with non-ST-segment elevation more
Heart-healthy pregnancy improves future CV health in children
November 17 ,2019
Overview:PHILADELPHIA — A new study highlights an independent association between maternal CV health during the third trimester and subsequent offspring CV health at 10 to 14 years of age.Using a CV health scoring system that assessed BMI, BP, total cholesterol, fasting blood glucose and smoking status — five metrics from the AHA’s Life’s Simple 7 — researchers found that every 1-point increase in maternal gestational CV health score was associated with a 0.24 (95% CI; 0.14-0.34) point higher offspring CV health score, according to data presented at the American Heart more
Artificial intelligence examining ECGs may predict mortality, AF
November 17 ,2019
Overview:PHILADELPHIA — Deep neural networks identified potential adverse outcomes and atrial fibrillation from 12-lead ECGs that were originally interpreted as normal, according to new research presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions.“Applications of machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques to problems in health care are increasingly common, but generally focus on diagnostic problems such as detecting features in an image of classifying a current diagnosis based on present features,” Christopher M. Haggerty, PhD, assistant professor in the more
GALILEO: Rivaroxaban raises death, thrombotic, bleeding risk vs. antiplatelet therapy after TAVR
November 17 ,2019
Overview:PHILADELPHIA — Among patients who underwent successful transcatheter aortic valve replacement and were not on chronic oral anticoagulation, rivaroxaban was linked to higher risk for death/thromboembolic complications and bleeding compared with antiplatelet therapy, according to results from the GALILEO trial.In the GALILEO 4D substudy, rivaroxaban (Xarelto, Janssen/Bayer) was linked to a lower rate of abnormalities related to subclinical leaflet thrombosis compared with antiplatelet therapy.Both studies were presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions and published more
Genetic variants may identify patients at risk for sudden cardiac death
November 16 ,2019
Overview:PHILADELPHIA — Gene sequencing was used to identify a subset of patients with sudden cardiac death through pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants, according to data presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions.Amit V. Khera, MD, MSc, associate director of the precision medicine unit in the Center for Genomic Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, associate director of the cardiovascular disease initiative at the Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, cardiologist at Corrigan Minehan Heart Center and instructor of more
In ACS, patients with symptomatic HIV less likely to undergo invasive CV procedures
November 16 ,2019
Overview:PHILADELPHIA — Among patients with ACS, patients with symptomatic HIV appear to be less aggressively treated with diagnostic catheterization, PCI and CABG compared with patients with no or asymptomatic HIV, according to findings presented at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions.Researchers found that patients with symptomatic HIV had lower procedural rates for diagnostic catheterization (OR = 0.62; 95% CI, 0.52-0.73), PCI (OR = 0.8; 95% CI, 0.67-0.96) and CABG (OR = 0.7; 95% CI, 0.52-0.93), compared with a control group of patients without HIV.Moreover, patients with more
Dapagliflozin confers consistent benefit in HF without diabetes: DAPA-HF
November 16 ,2019
Overview:PHILADELPHIA — New analyses of the DAPA-HF trial suggest that the benefits of the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin extend beyond its effects as a type 2 diabetes therapy.On the heels of the main DAPA-HF results presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in September, John J.V. McMurray, MD, professor of cardiology at the Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences at University of Glasgow, Scotland, presented new data that confirm benefits of treatment with dapagliflozin (Farxiga, AstraZeneca) 10 mg once daily in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction and no more
ISCHEMIA: Invasive strategy, medical therapy yield similar CV outcomes in stable ischemia
November 16 ,2019
Overview:PHILADELPHIA — In stable patients with moderate or severe ischemia, an invasive strategy and a conservative strategy of optimal medical therapy yielded similar long-term CV outcomes, according to long-anticipated results of the ISCHEMIA and ISCHEMIA-CKD trials presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions.However, in the main ISCHEMIA trial, which excluded patients with renal disease, an invasive strategy was associated with improvements in angina control and quality of life in patients with angina compared with a conservative strategy. In patients without angina, the more
MARVEL 2: Atrial sensing algorithm with leadless pacemaker boosts atrioventricular synchrony
November 16 ,2019
Overview:PHILADELPHIA — Accelerometer-based atrial sensing with a novel, enhanced, automated algorithm in patients with atrioventricular block and a single-chamber leadless pacemaker in the right ventricle significantly improved atrioventricular synchrony, which led to significant improvements in stroke volume, according to data from the MARVEL 2 trial presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions.The study was simultaneously published in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology.Larry A. Chinitz, MD, Alvin Benjamin and Kenneth Coyle, Sr. Family Professor of Medicine and Cardiac more
Twice-yearly inclisiran cuts LDL in ASCVD patients
November 16 ,2019
Overview:PHILADELPHIA — New data on inclisiran, an investigational cholesterol-lowering therapy in the small-interfering RNA class, demonstrate sustained LDL reductions with twice-yearly dosing in high-risk patients with atherosclerotic CVD.In the phase 3 ORION-10 trial, twice-yearly injections of inclisiran sodium 300 mg (The Medicines Company) resulted in placebo-adjusted LDL reductions of 58% at 17 months (P < .0001) and time-averaged placebo-adjusted LDL reductions of 56% from month 3 to 18 (P < .0001), R. Scott Wright, MD, professor of medicine and consultant in cardiology at Mayo more
COLCOT: Low-dose colchicine reduces CV risk after MI
November 16 ,2019
Overview:PHILADELPHIA — Adults with a recent MI were less likely to experience an ischemic CV event over 2 years when assigned the anti-inflammatory gout medication colchicine compared with assignment to placebo, according to new results of the COLCOT trial presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions.“In addition to standard of care in patients with a recent MI, colchicine 0.5 mg daily significantly reduces the risk for first ischemic CV events by 23% and total ischemic cardiovascular events by 34%,” Jean-Claude Tardif, MD, director of research at the Montreal more
New AHA initiative targets vaping, nicotine addiction in youth
November 16 ,2019
Overview:PHILADELPHIA — The American Heart Association unveiled a new three-pronged initiative focusing on new research, public advocacy and a youth activation campaign to combat the current epidemic of nicotine addition and e-cigarette use in youth.The AHA will commit $20 million to fund research that focuses on understanding how e-cigarette use and nicotine addiction impact youth. The End the Lies Youth Vaping and Nicotine Research Initiative is one of the largest research projects ever funded by the association, AHA president Robert A. Harrington, MD, FAHA, said during a press conference held more
E-cigarette use negatively affects lipids, myocardial blood flow
November 15 ,2019
Overview:PHILADELPHIA — Electronic cigarette use appears to have detrimental effects on lipid levels and myocardial blood flow compared with nonuse, according to two studies presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions.Lipid and glucose levelsSana Majid, MD, postdoctoral fellow in vascular biology at Boston University School of Medicine, and colleagues conducted the CITU study to determine whether e-cigarette use affected lipid and glucose levels compared with no cigarette use.“We know that traditional cigarette use tends to change glucose and cholesterol levels in an more
Evening eating may worsen heart health in women
November 15 ,2019
Overview:PHILADELPHIA — Women who consumed a higher proportion of their daily calories after 6 p.m. had poorer overall CV health and higher BP, BMI and HbA1c levels, researchers reported at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions.“Our findings indicate that earlier timing and lower percentage of daily calories consumed during evening meals may represent a modifiable behavior to lower risk of heart disease,” Nour Makarem, PhD, associate research scientist in the division of cardiology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, told Healio. “Therefore, intentional more
FDA panel unanimously supports CV event risk reduction indication for icosapent ethyl
November 14 ,2019
Overview:The Endocrinologic and Metabolic Diseases Advisory Committee of the FDA voted 16-0 in favor of the safety and efficacy of icosapent ethyl, based on available data, to support its approval for an indication to reduce risk for CV events.“Even with all the caveats, I’m still comfortable with this being approved for both primary and secondary prevention,” Susan S. Ellenberg, PhD, professor of biostatistics and of medical ethics and health policy at University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, said during a discussion after the vote. “I think that if there’s more
Reduce your 2019 tax bill before year's end
November 14 ,2019
Overview:by Sanjeev Bhatia, MD, and David Mandell, JD, MBAMany physicians have just filed their 2018 tax returns – if they filed on extension – but it is already time to take steps to reduce the 2019 tax bill. In fact, year-end planning is important because many tax tactics cannot be implemented for the current tax year after Dec. 31.Most provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) went into effect in 2018, so you probably have some understanding of how the new tax law impacted you and will continue to affect you for the 2019 tax year and beyond.One of the biggest changes for 2018 more
FDA warns Dollar Tree regarding ‘potentially unsafe’ drugs
November 14 ,2019
Overview:The FDA has sent a warning letter to Greenbrier International, Inc., doing business as Dollar Tree, for receiving over-the-counter drugs made by foreign manufacturers that were found to have serious violations of federal law.According to the press release, the warning letter also described multiple violations of current good manufacturing practices at contract manufacturers used to produce Dollar Tree’s Assured Brand OTC drugs and other drug products sold at Dollar Tree and Family Dollar; detailed Dollar Tree’s receipt of adulterated drugs from manufacturers that previously more
Bioresorbable scaffold effectively treats below-the-knee lesions
November 14 ,2019
Overview:LAS VEGAS — A bioresorbable scaffold was shown to be safe and effective for treatment of below-the-knee lesions in two studies presented at VIVA 19.In the 5-year results of the ABSORB BTK trial of the bioresorbable scaffold (Absorb, Abbott), more than 90% of patients did not require revascularization, whereas in the 1-year results of the DISAPEAR registry, there were high rates of patency, wound healing and limb salvage.ABSORB BTKIn ABSORB BTK, at 5 years, the rate of primary patency was 72.9% and the rate of freedom from clinically driven target lesion revascularization was 90.7%, more
WHF joins Global Alliance on Heart Failure and Healthy Aging
November 14 ,2019
Overview:The World Heart Federation is proud to join the newly launched Global Alliance on Heart Failure and Healthy Aging (the Alliance), an initiative by Global Coalition on Aging (GCOA) that recognizes that while heart failure does increase in prevalence with age, it is not a normal part of aging. More than 30 organizations, including advocacy groups, global […] The post WHF joins Global Alliance on Heart Failure and Healthy Aging appeared first on World Heart Federation. more
‘Stop and think’ each time you use social media professionally
November 14 ,2019
Overview:ATLANTA — Because social media guidelines at the institution, practice setting and professional organizations are often vague or open to interpretation, Jilaine Bolek Berquist, MD, a rheumatologist with Mercy Health in Janesville, Wisconsin, focused her “Tweets & Trolls” talk on recommendations for physicians when using social media.“What we do online does have implications on our career and how the world sees physicians and our medical profession,” she said here at the 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting.Physicians may want to use social media to network with more
Apple Heart Study publication offers further insights on AF detection from wearables
November 13 ,2019
Overview:Results of the Apple Heart Study that were presented earlier this year at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Session have been published in The New England Journal of Medicine.Presented data at ACCAs Cardiology Today previously reported at the meeting, the large-scale, app-based study enrolled 419,297 participants during an 8-month period, of whom 0.52% received an irregular pulse notification. Nearly half of participants (44%; n = 945) who received a notification went on to attend the first telehealth study visit. The ECG patch was mailed to 70% of participants (n = 658) and 68% more
Public health groups call on International Labour Organization to reject tobacco funding
October 30 ,2019
Overview:Bangkok (30 October, 2019) – Global public health groups called on the ILO Governing Body to reject tobacco donations and tap tobacco taxes as funding source; as well as to espouse strict regulations on labor standards in order to eliminate concerns such as hazardous working conditions and child labor. The letter addressed to the “Director General of […] The post Public health groups call on International Labour Organization to reject tobacco funding appeared first on World Heart Federation. more
WHF welcomes new Air Pollution Expert Group
October 14 ,2019
Overview:Following a call for applications in the summer of 2019, we are very excited to announce that ten distinguished air pollution and CVD experts from around the world have been approved by the WHF Board to form the new Air Pollution Expert Group (APEG). Air pollution is rapidly being recognized as one of the most significant […] The post WHF welcomes new Air Pollution Expert Group appeared first on World Heart Federation. more
WHF releases new Advocacy Strategy for 2019-2022
October 03 ,2019
Overview:The World Heart Federation has released its new Advocacy Strategy for 2019-2020: Advocating like Investors. Why an Advocacy Strategy? The new Advocacy Strategy aims to specify what WHF wants to achieve through advocacy by 2022, including broad goals and detailed objectives. It will guide our work and help us measure success over the next four years. […] The post WHF releases new Advocacy Strategy for 2019-2022 appeared first on World Heart Federation. more
Celebrating our Heart Heroes 2019: Anthony King
October 03 ,2019
Overview:On World Heart Day, we are celebrating Heart Heroes … people from all walks of life who have shown commitment, courage, empathy, and care in relation to heart health. “I’m motivated to counsel people on paying attention to their heart and any signs that there may be trouble.” I was in what I thought was very good […] The post Celebrating our Heart Heroes 2019: Anthony King appeared first on World Heart Federation. more
Celebrating our Heart Heroes 2019: Anne Dalin
October 02 ,2019
Overview:On World Heart Day, we are celebrating Heart Heroes … people from all walks of life who have shown commitment, courage, empathy, and care in relation to heart health. “My promise for World Heart Day is to stay focused on taking care of my health and to ensure that I’m around to have a good, long and […] The post Celebrating our Heart Heroes 2019: Anne Dalin appeared first on World Heart Federation. more
Celebrating our Heart Heroes 2019: Brenda Cooperstone
October 02 ,2019
Overview:On World Heart Day, we are celebrating Heart Heroes … people from all walks of life who have shown commitment, courage, empathy, and care in relation to heart health. “My promise for World Heart Day is to help increase awareness of transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM), a uniformly fatal disease, to ensure early diagnosis and treatment so that […] The post Celebrating our Heart Heroes 2019: Brenda Cooperstone appeared first on World Heart Federation. more
Wrapping up the UN General Assembly and High-Level Meeting on UHC
October 02 ,2019
Overview:On 22 September world leaders met in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, a jam-packed week of meetings, discussions, and side events organized around the most pressing global issues. The World Heart Federation was proud to represent our Members and the cardiovascular community at the highest levels of global governance, including at the UN High-Level Meeting […] The post Wrapping up the UN General Assembly and High-Level Meeting on UHC appeared first on World Heart Federation. more
Celebrating our Heart Heroes 2019: Walter
October 01 ,2019
Overview:On World Heart Day, we are celebrating Heart Heroes … people from all walks of life who have shown commitment, courage, empathy, and care in relation to heart health. “Most cardiologists have never knowingly seen a patient with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM), so they often miss the diagnosis.” I’m 71 years old. For more than a decade, […] The post Celebrating our Heart Heroes 2019: Walter appeared first on World Heart Federation. more
WHF is pleased to partner with Withings on World Heart Day to increase awareness of CVD prevention
September 28 ,2019
Overview:In recent years much has been done to improve mortality caused by the cardiovascular epidemic, but it remains the number one killer on the planet and any decline may be short term and can change direction so we cannot relax our vigilance. Human behaviour plays a huge part in CVD risk, with lifestyle factors such […] The post WHF is pleased to partner with Withings on World Heart Day to increase awareness of CVD prevention appeared first on World Heart Federation. 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