Conferences

The American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association have collaborated on a new update to the much-discussed 2021 chest pain guidelines. The American College of Emergency Physicians and Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions also contributed to the document.

Breathlessness among patients with long COVID may be a sign of heart damage

Researchers presented their findings at EuroEcho 2021.

Hispanic PAD patients often face longer hospitalizations, higher costs

Hispanic adults with peripheral artery disease tend to seek care through the emergency department—and they are paying the price.

Hypertension patients measured their blood pressure less frequently during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new research published in Hypertension. In addition, when those patients did measure their blood pressure, the readings were less healthy than they had been before the pandemic.

Poor oral health may make COVID-19 more harmful among cardiovascular patients

The group's findings will be presented in full at ACC Middle East 2021 in Egypt.

Many PAD patients are missing out on vital risk assessments

The findings, based on Medicare data, were presented at VIVA21 in Las Vegas.

Conferences

Measuring COVID-19's impact on diagnostic tests for diabetes

The new study examines yet another way the pandemic impacted cardiovascular care.

USPSTF updates its stance on aspirin use to prevent CVD, sees no benefit for patients 60 or older.

Dapagliflozin significantly improves HFpEF symptoms

One researcher described the findings, presented at the Heart Failure Society of America's Annual Scientific Meeting, as "great news for patients and clinicians."

Cardiac monitors maintained by specialists more accurate than AI-powered alternatives

The new analysis, presented at Heart Rhythm 2021, focused on patients from an outpatient arrhythmia clinic.

DOACs reduce stroke risk better than aspirin among high-risk ablation patients

Researchers presented the new data at Heart Rhythm 2021.

Algorithm leans on patient-reported variables to predict mortality

A machine learning algorithm that predicts five-year mortality among patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) makes the case that patient responses to questionnaires can be just as informative in risk stratification as clinical characteristics and lab measurements.

Study shows discord between AFib patients, physicians in anticoagulant prescribing

When approached again, about a quarter of patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib) not taking anticoagulants due to physician-cited “patient refusal” said they would consider taking the drugs, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions in Chicago.

AHA.18: TRED-HF exposes danger of stopping drug treatment for dilated cardiomyopathy

Among patients with restored ventricular function who were taken off their heart failure medications, 44 percent relapsed within eight weeks. Researchers said the trial indicates most of these patients should remain on their treatments indefinitely.

AHA.18: Sacubitril-valsartan combo shows promise for acute decompensated HF

Sacubitril-valsartan therapy was associated with greater reductions in N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) than enalapril among patients hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure, according to research presented Nov. 11 at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions and published online simultaneously in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Around the web

Health Imaging

New imaging protocols proposed to curb rise of cardiovascular infections

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.

Radiology Business

What does radiology have to do with climate change?

Kate Hanneman, MD, explains why many vendors and hospitals want to lower radiology's impact on the environment. "Taking steps to reduce the carbon footprint in healthcare isn’t just an opportunity," she said. "It’s also a responsibility."

Radiology Business

Philips launches new AI-enabled CT scanner aimed at cardiology at ECR 2024

Philips introduced a new CT system at ECR aimed at the rapidly growing cardiac CT market, incorporating numerous AI features to optimize workflow and image quality.