Breakthrough: First Beating-Heart Transplants
2024 28 Jun
Ken Miller of Ferndale, Michigan, has become the first person to undergo a beating heart transplant and one of only a few in the U.S. to have this surgery. In this groundbreaking procedure, the transplant team at Henry Ford Hospital, led by cardiac and transplant surgeon Dr Kyle Miletic, successfully implanted Miller’s new heart while...Read more
Cuffless Blood Pressure Device to Enhance Hypertension Management
2024 26 Jun
A new study evaluated a novel device that automatically measures blood pressure at the wrist. This cuffless monitor uses optical sensors to continually record blood pressure, generating hundreds of readings within days. This could aid clinicians in determining cardiovascular risk and improving hypertension care. Published in Frontiers in Medicine,...Read more
Semaglutide - More Weight Loss in Women Than Men With Heart Failure
2024 24 Jun
Semaglutide has demonstrated significant symptom improvement in both men and women suffering from a common type of heart failure with limited treatment options. Research presented at the American Diabetes Association’s 2024 Scientific Sessions and published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology reveals that women achieved greater...Read more
Preventing Damage Caused by Heart Attack
2024 21 Jun
A research team at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute in Australia has created an integrated map of heart cells that unlocks cardiac fibrosis, a leading cause of heart failure. The study is published in Science Advances. This breakthrough paves the way for the development of targeted drugs to prevent scarring that occurs after...Read more
WHO Issues Global Alert Over Fake Ozempic
2024 21 Jun
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a global alert about fake versions of Ozempic, a drug that has gained significant popularity for weight loss. Although Ozempic is primarily prescribed for type 2 diabetes, it is sometimes referred to as a "skinny jab" due to its weight-loss effects. The WHO has warned that the fake versions of Ozempic...Read more
Inequities in CV Care, Death Rates
2024 20 Jun
A new report titled "Excess Cardiovascular Mortality Among Black Americans 2000-2022: A Report Card" highlights the inequities in cardiovascular care, emphasising the years of life lost within the Black community due to higher cardiovascular disease death rates. The report is published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC). The...Read more
MRI in Patients with Abandoned Cardiovascular Implantable Devices
2024 18 Jun
Current guidelines on MRI for patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) and abandoned leads or fragments vary between regions. In the United States, the Heart Rhythm Society lacks clear recommendations due to insufficient data, while European guidelines offer a class IIb recommendation, suggesting MRI if benefits outweigh risks,...Read more
Prediabetes in Adolescents and Social Determinants of Health
2024 16 Jun
Low household income, food insecurity and lack of private health insurance are linked with higher rates of prediabetes in adolescents, regardless of race and ethnicity. These findings are published in JAMA. Prediabetes can progress to type 2 diabetes if not addressed with lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise. It can be a serious condition...Read more
Wearable Blood Sugar Monitors
2024 15 Jun
Millions of people could soon wear blood sugar monitoring devices after regulators cleared two new devices for use without a prescription. Is this a step towards better health, or just another data-driven distraction? Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), which track glucose levels in real time, have long been used by diabetics. Recently, Abbott...Read more
Predicting Sudden Cardiac Death
2024 14 Jun
Physicists at Tampere University have developed a new computational method to estimate the risk of sudden cardiac death from a one-minute heart rate measurement at rest. This study was a collaborative effort between experts in cardiology and computational physics, who developed the method using time series analysis. Sudden cardiac death...Read more
Fewer People May Need Statins
2024 13 Jun
According to a study by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and the University of Michigan, if national guidelines are updated to incorporate a new risk equation, about 40% fewer people could meet the criteria for cholesterol-lowering statins to prevent heart disease. These findings are published in...Read more
Comparative Analysis of Cardiac MRI Recommendations in ESC & ACC/AHA Guidelines
2024 12 Jun
Cardiac MRI has become a valuable tool in diagnosing and managing various cardiovascular conditions due to its noninvasive nature and ability to provide detailed anatomical and functional information. Standardised protocols are available, and its versatility allows for the investigation of a wide range of cardiac diseases. However, guidelines from...Read more
Predicting Cardiovascular Risk in Patients Undergoing Coronary CT Angiography
2024 12 Jun
Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is commonly used to investigate chest pain and guide treatment decisions for coronary artery disease (CAD). However, it often identifies individuals without significant CAD, whose management and prognosis remain uncertain. The Oxford Risk Factors And Non-invasive imaging (ORFAN) study aimed...Read more
AI Tool Finds Rare Variants Linked to Heart Disease
2024 12 Jun
In a new study, researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have identified coding variants in 17 genes that provide new insights into the molecular basis of coronary artery disease (CAD). The team used an advanced artificial intelligence tool to make these discoveries. Their findings are published in Nature Genetics. The...Read more
Physical Activity Timing and Glycaemic Control
2024 11 Jun
New research reveals that moderate to vigorous physical activity in the evening is most beneficial for lowering daily blood sugar levels in sedentary adults with overweight and obesity. The findings are published in Obesity. It is well established that moderate to vigorous physical activity enhances glucose homeostasis in overweight and...Read more
Young Athletes at Risk for Hypertension
2024 07 Jun
A study presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Care of the Athletic Heart conference shows that a substantial portion of young athletes are at risk for hypertension. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, affects 47% of adults in the U.S. Over time, this condition can weaken the heart, blood vessels, and kidneys, leading to the...Read more
Exercise Preserves Cognition in Patients With Hypertension
2024 06 Jun
People with high blood pressure have an increased risk of cognitive impairment, including dementia. However, a new study by researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine indicates that participating in physical activity more than once a week can reduce this risk. The findings are published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia. The researchers...Read more
Risk Factors, Population Shifts Could Triple Cardiovascular Disease Costs by 2050
2024 05 Jun
Driven by an ageing and increasingly diverse population, along with a significant rise in risk factors such as high blood pressure and obesity, the total costs related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) are projected to triple by 2050. This projection comes from the American Heart Association. It is expected that at least 61% of U.S. adults, or over...Read more
Statins Prevent Cancer by Blocking Inflammatory Protein
2024 03 Jun
A new study conducted by researchers from the Mass General Cancer Center shows that statins—commonly used cholesterol-lowering drugs—may inhibit a specific pathway in cancer development caused by chronic inflammation. The findings are published in Nature Communications. Chronic inflammation is a major cause of cancer worldwide. In this...Read more
Work-Life Imbalance and Cardiovascular Risk Biomarkers
2024 02 Jun
Longer working hours, the expectation of being constantly “on,” and blurred boundaries between work and personal life are causing workplace stress to spill over into home life. This negative spillover adversely affects mental health, family relationships, work productivity, and job satisfaction. This “epidemic” of work-life imbalance raises concerns...Read more
Heart Attack, Stroke Risk Increases With Obesity for a Decade or More
2024 02 Jun
People under 50 face a higher risk of heart attack or stroke if they’ve lived with obesity for 10 years, according to research presented at ENDO 2024, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Boston, Massachusetts. People with excess weight at any point in time have a greater risk of heart attacks and strokes. However, whether the duration...Read more
Mediterranean Diet Lowers Risk of All-Cause Mortality
2024 01 Jun
Numerous studies have reported the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet. However, long-term data on its effects have been limited, and the reasons behind its mortality risk reduction are not well understood. In a new study following over 25,000 initially healthy women in the U.S. for up to 25 years, researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital...Read more
Metformin and Reduced Blood Cancer Risk
2024 30 May
Metformin, a widely used diabetic medication, recognised for its effectiveness in lowering glucose levels, has shown promise in preventing blood cancer, according to recent research. Beyond its primary use in diabetes management, metformin has been explored for its potential benefits in treating conditions such as gum disease, muscle atrophy, long...Read more
Semaglutide Reduces Need for Diuretics in Heart Failure Patients
2024 30 May
Recent research presented at Heart Failure 2024 highlights that semaglutide reduces the necessity for loop diuretics and their dosage while also positively impacting symptoms, physical limitations, and body weight in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), irrespective of their diuretic regimen. HFpEF occurs when the...Read more
Heart Failure and Multimorbidity Due to Innate Immune Memory
2024 28 May
Recent research indicates that heart failure induces a lasting stress memory in the body, potentially contributing to recurrent heart failure and other health issues. This memory involves changes to the DNA modifications of haematopoietic stem cells, which are crucial for producing immune cells like macrophages that protect heart health. During...Read more
Extreme Temperatures May Increase Risk of Stroke
2024 24 May
Extreme heat and cold are linked to increased risk of death from ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke, according to a new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The research indicates that this link is stronger in low-income countries compared to high-income countries. The study is published in Stroke. Study findings highlight...Read more
UK’s NHS Infected Blood Scandal: Report’s Key Findings
2024 24 May
In a harrowing revelation of negligence and deceit, a recent report has uncovered the appalling scale of the infected blood scandal that rocked the UK between 1970 and 1991. The report, spearheaded by Sir Brian Langstaff, sheds light on the catastrophic consequences of administrative failures and the disregard for patient safety, resulting in the...Read more
Long-Term Ketogenic Diet Accumulates Aged Cells in Normal Tissues
2024 23 May
A strict "keto-friendly" diet, often popular for weight loss and diabetes management, may not be as friendly as it seems, depending on the individual and the specifics of the diet. Researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) found that a continuous long-term ketogenic diet might induce senescence,...Read more
Ozempic Could Reduce Heart Attack Risk
2024 22 May
A recent analysis shows that semaglutide, a prescription drug (brand names Wegovy and Ozempic), may reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes in individuals, regardless of their weight loss success. Prof John Deanfield from the UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Disease led the study. Researchers analysed data from the Semaglutide and...Read more
Gap Between Science of Obesity and Patient Care
2024 22 May
Obesity prevalence has steadily risen, affecting over 40% of U.S. adults aged 20 and older. Scientific advances have illuminated the multifaceted causes of obesity, including sociological and physiological factors. Treatment strategies now encompass lifestyle modifications, medications, and bariatric surgery, each posing unique implementation challenges....Read more
