CARDIOPROGRESS
Foundation for the advancement of cardiology

Parsimonious machine learning model to predict 1-year mortality and procedural futility after transcatheter aortic valve replacement Current risk assessment scores are insufficiently accurate in predicting long-term mortality after transcatheter aortic valve replacement, limiting their usefulness for decision-making regarding the feasibility of the procedure. The researchers aimed to develop and test a machine learning model on external data using only preoperative variables to predict all-cause mortality within one year.

Congenital heart disease in England: a national cohort study from fetal diagnosis to end of infancy Population-based studies of congenital heart defects (CHDs) often include only children who have undergone cardiac surgery, leading to an underestimation of the number of cases that do not require intervention. In a new study, the authors analyzed the outcomes of all identified cases of structural CHDs in England from prenatal to one year of age.

Younger Age Offers No Protection From HFrEF Deaths Patients aged 40-85 years with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) died at higher rates over 5 years than matched peers from the general population across all age groups; however, the greatest relative impact was seen in younger adults (aged 40-49 years).

Atopic Dermatitis in Childhood Not Linked to Early Cardiovascular Risk In a UK study of 9281 participants followed from childhood into early adulthood, atopic dermatitis, including more active and severe atopic dermatitis, was not consistently associated with cardiometabolic risk scores, traditional cardiovascular risk factors (blood pressure, lipid profiles), or measures of subclinical atherosclerosis.

Changes in Physical Activity Following Heart Failure in Humans and Animal Models: A Scoping Review According to a review, patients with heart failure (HF) experience decreased physical activity (PA) due to fatigue, shortness of breath, and psychological and environmental factors. This leads to a decline in physical function and prognosis, but the extent of the decline in PA specifically due to heart failure remains unclear.

Toward Personalized Heart Failure Management: Integrating Biomarkers and Multimodal Monitoring Strategies Scientists have discovered that effective treatment of heart failure (HF) requires timely detection and treatment of congestive heart failure in both inpatient and outpatient settings. As HF treatment approaches become more complex, interest in improved therapeutic strategies, including biomarker-based approaches and noninvasive and invasive remote monitoring methods, is growing.

Factor XI Inhibitor Abelacimab Cuts Bleeding Risk Across Age Groups in Atrial Fibrillation Among adults with atrial fibrillation (AF), those who received the factor XI inhibitor abelacimab had a lower risk for major or clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding than those who received the oral anticoagulant rivaroxaban across age groups, with greater absolute risk reductions in older adults.

High Salivary Aldosterone Can Signal Future Heart Disease Researchers cross-sectionally compared the salivary free AldAR among men with coronary heart disease, essential hypertension, and normotension and prospectively evaluated whether the AldAR could predict the risk for coronary heart disease.

Weight Gain Risks: The Ultraprocessed Food Connection Researchers analyzed data from 24,453 Brazilian adults (79.7% women) in the NutriNet Brasil cohort study, who were followed up for a median of 43.6 months, to assess the association between consumption of ultraprocessed foods and weight gain.

Low Vitamin D Levels Signal Increased Heart Risk in Seniors In older adults, lower levels of vitamin D metabolites and periostin, a protein involved in remodelling and repairing tissues, were linked to an increased cardiovascular (CV) risk. Low periostin levels were correlated with low vitamin D levels, and when all three markers were considered together, only the active form of vitamin D independently predicted the CV risk.

Simulation deficit in cardiology training: a missed opportunity for the modern trainee Cardiology training today exists in a paradox. As the specialty becomes more complex, particularly in procedural domains, the time and resources available to train new cardiologists have dwindled. Simulation has become an increasingly important component of modern cardiology training, offering a safe, structured and reproducible environment in which clinical skills can be developed and refined.1 The term simulation encompasses a broad spectrum of educational approaches, ranging from focused task training to high-fidelity scenario-based learning.

Shingles vaccine protects against cardiovascular diseases Shingles vaccination reduced major adverse cardiac events and secondary cardiovascular outcomes for patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to new research.

Heart failure evidence update 2026 The interval since the 2021 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines and 2022 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology/Heart Failure Society of America (AHA/ACC/HFSA) Guidelines publications has witnessed an unprecedented volume of evidence that substantially expands the therapeutic landscape across the entire ejection fraction spectrum.

Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Acute Pulmonary Embolism in Adults in 2026 The 2026 Guidelines for the Evaluation and Management of Acute Pulmonary Embolism in Adults, developed by the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, the American College of Chest Physicians, the American College of Embolology et al.

Guideline on the Management of Dyslipidemia The new 2026 ACC/AHA/AACVPR et al. Guidelines for the Management of Dyslipidemia have been published. These guidelines address the assessment, treatment, and monitoring of individuals with dyslipidemia, including high blood cholesterol, elevated triglycerides, and elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)]. These new guidelines address primary, secondary, and primary prevention, provide guidance for care of adults and children, reinstate risk-based treatment targets for low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and replace the 2018 AHA/ACC/Multisociety Cholesterol Treatment Guidelines.

Quadpill Strategy Gains Ground in Hypertension Several new antihypertensive agents are reshaping the therapeutic strategies for patients with uncontrolled or resistant hypertension. Agents such as baxdrostat, the first selective aldosterone synthase inhibitor, and aprocitentan, a dual endothelin receptor A and B antagonist, are paving the way for new drug combinations and a more personalized approach to blood pressure control.

Heart Risks Rise, Care Lags: New Stats Expose Harsh Truths Researchers compiled a national data report on the burden, quality of care, and mortality trends for major cardiovascular risk factors and conditions in the US.

Updated recommendations for adults with congenital heart defects On December 18, updated guidelines for management of adults with congenital heart disease, developed by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) in conjunction with several other societies, were published in Circulation and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Can Interventional EP Go Outpatient? Is interventional electrophysiology poised for a paradigm shift? The American College of Cardiology and Heart Rhythm Society may think so. In a joint scientific statement, they offer guidance on performing certain procedures, such as cardiac ablation, in facilities that provide same-day surgical care without the need for hospital admission.

New Pediatric CPR Guidelines: Key Updates for Clinicians More than 7,000 community-acquired cardiac arrests occur in the United States each year. New methods are aimed at restoring breathing, clearing clogged airways and improving survival.