Gregg Stone, MD, explains the details of the late-breaking RELIEVE-HF trial at ACC.24, where an inter-atrial shunt improved symptoms in HFrEF, but not in HFpEF patients.

There is a rapidly growing shortage in general cardiologists and for positions in rural areas, numerous healthcare system recruiters set up at the ACC reported.

CMS has issued its proposed rule for the 2025 Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment system, suggesting a payment increase of 2.6%. According to the American Hospital Association, this update would not be enough at a time when hospitals are already struggling to stay open. 

Howard C. Herrmann, MD, principal investigator of the SMART trial, discussed his team's research on self-expanding vs. balloon-expandable TAVR valves in patients with small annuli. 

While most TAVR-related reinterventions occurred in the first year after treatment, most SAVR-related reinterventions occurred in years two through five. The team's full analysis is available in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.

An independent heart team blinded to ICA results was able to deliver helpful guidance for CABG procedures for 99.1% of patients using just CCTA and FFR_CT alone. This approach is safe and feasible, researchers wrote, and the next step is to gather additional data. 

"We were thrilled with the meeting and the attendance," ACC President Cathie Biga, RN, told Cardiovascular Business.

The PREVENT study, presented at ACC.24, examined more than 1,600 patients with high-risk plaques treated with either preventive PCI or medical therapy alone. Outcomes were much better for the PCI group after two years, but the findings may lead to more questions than answers.