Acute Coronary Syndromes

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is most commonly caused by a heart attack (myocardial infarction) where blood flow to the heart is suddenly blocked. This is usually caused by a blood clot from a ruptured coronary artery atherosclerotic plaque. Other causes include spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), which most commonly occurs in women. ACS is usually treated in a cath lab with angioplasty and the placement of a stent to prop the vessel open.

$Performing CT-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) before transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) improves the accuracy of coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and helps limit unneeded invasive coronary angiography (ICA), according to a new study published in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions. Heartflow$
New cardiac imaging strategy could reduce ICA, PCI rates
Radiologists with Massachusetts General Hospital found that the selective use of cardiac CT and AI-based CAD evaluations could make a significant impact on patient care.
Critics call out ‘woefully inadequate’ CMS proposal for inpatient Medicare payments
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.
FDA grants new imaging tool for CTO interventions its breakthrough device designation
The new device delivers real-time OCT visualization during revascularization procedures.
ACC.24: Impella CP boosts survival for patients with STEMI-related cardiogenic shock
“This is the first time in a very long time that we have a positive study for managing cardiogenic shock,” one cardiologist said.
Day 1 at ACC.24: Late-breakers examine potential new heart attack, heart failure treatments
ACC.24 in Atlanta began Saturday, April 6, with a series of late-breaking clinical trials exploring brand new treatment strategies.

Flu Shots can help lower risk factors to prevent cardiac events in a new study. Flu shots are associated with a significant reduction in the risk of cardiovascular complications or pneumonia in patients with heart failure, according to new findings published in The Lancet Global Health.

Flu shots lower CVD risk, new meta-analysis confirms

The study's authors tracked data from six different randomized controlled trials, including a large study from 2021 that focused on myocardial infarction patients.

May 9, 2022

The USPSTF changed the low-dose aspirin recommendations for cardiovascular disease prevention in April 2022 by suggesting patients over age 60 without history of CVD should not take it and people 40-60 should only take it if there are other risk factors.

VIDEO: USPSTF official discusses new low-dose aspirin recommendations

Michael J. Barry, MD, vice chair of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, gave Cardiovascular Business an overview of the new recommendations.

May 6, 2022

How the science behind COVID-19 vaccines could transform care for heart attack patients

A technique seen in the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines may be able to help heart cells repair themselves, according to new research out of the Netherlands.

May 5, 2022

The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF), a related organization of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), this week released a statement on the criminalization of medical errors. The APSF said criminal prosecution is unjust and counterproductive is healthcare organizations want to find ways to mitigate errors by understanding how they happen and create protocols or IT systems can can help prevent future errors. The criminal trial of nurse RaDonda Vaught was counterproductive to safety.

Unpaid student loan debt is bad for the heart

An American Journal of Preventive Medicine study highlights higher rates of cardiovascular disease for adults who fail to pay down student debt.

May 5, 2022

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

These recommendations, the group emphasized, do not include patients with a history of CVD or those who are already taking aspirin for another reason.

April 26, 2022

Biden-Trump presidential election linked to a higher heart attack risk among white, male and older individuals

“There is a need for awareness of this higher risk of CVD, and further research is warranted to identify strategies that mitigate cardiovascular risk during notable political events,” researchers explained.

April 22, 2022

Mental illness strongly linked with higher CVD mortality

The associations between schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and cardiovascular mortality have grown in recent decades.

April 20, 2022

A renal failure patient receives dialysis. A new study shows a drop in death in kidney failure patients from heart attack, PE and stroke.

Deaths from MI, stroke and pulmonary embolism are down among kidney patients receiving dialysis

The new analysis, published in JAMA Network Open, focused on more than 220,000 dialysis patients treated from 1998 to 2015.

April 18, 2022

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Acute Coronary Syndromes

New cardiac imaging strategy could reduce ICA, PCI rates

Critics call out ‘woefully inadequate’ CMS proposal for inpatient Medicare payments

FDA grants new imaging tool for CTO interventions its breakthrough device designation

ACC.24: Impella CP boosts survival for patients with STEMI-related cardiogenic shock

Day 1 at ACC.24: Late-breakers examine potential new heart attack, heart failure treatments

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