CARDIOPROGRESS
Foundation for the advancement of cardiology

Risk and protective factors for stroke and transient ischaemic attack in patients with atrial fibrillation: an umbrella review of meta-analyses Atrial fibrillation is linked to significant morbidity and mortality, with ischaemic stroke being a leading cause of death. Identifying modifiable risk and protective factors may help reduce stroke incidence in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Chewing sugary gum may enhance the cardiovascular benefits of nitrate-rich vegetables For the first time, researchers at King's College London have discovered a link between chewing sugary gum after consuming vegetables high in nitrate, such as beetroot, spinach and kale, and lowering blood pressure.

Epigenetic drugs could protect blood vessels in obesity and diabetes Scientists from Zurich, together with colleagues from Italy, have proved that by acting on epigenetic "switches", early damage to blood vessels can be reversed. People with obesity and type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of cardiovascular complications. However, the danger depends not only on heredity, but also on how genes work.

Non-atherosclerotic myocardial infarction in hypereosinophilic syndrome: emerging insights and therapeutic approaches Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is a heterogeneous disorder characterised by persistent, abnormal eosinophil elevation in blood and tissues, with multisystem involvement. Cardiac manifestations are frequent in HES and significantly worsen prognosis. Recent evidence establishes a direct link between HES and myocardial infarction (MI), demonstrating that HES induces MI primarily via non-atherosclerotic mechanisms.

Accelerated biological ageing and cardiovascular disease trajectories: a multistate analysis Accelerated biological ageing has been linked to elevated risks of hypertension (HTN) and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), yet its role in shaping the dynamic progression from health to HTN, to CVDs, and ultimately to mortality remains poorly understood. In this regard, the data of 136,614 participants of the UK Biobank aged 38 to 73 years, who did not have hypertension and CVD at the initial stage, were analyzed.

Diagnostic performance of exercise stress testing findings and coronary microvascular dysfunction in patients with angina with non-obstructive coronary artery disease Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is common among patients with angina with non-obstructive coronary artery disease (ANOCA) and leads to poorer clinical outcomes. Exercise stress testing (EST) was shown to have a high specificity for detecting CMD. However, the relationship between diagnosing CMD using different invasive physiological parameters and thresholds and the association between EST findings and the endotype of CMD remains unknown.

Engineered blood clots stop bleeding in seconds The blood in the vascular system of the body supports vital functions, but when it leaves the body, it must quickly form a strong protective barrier — a clot that prevents death. However, because natural blood clots are known to form very slowly, heavy bleeding from accidents, battlefield injuries, and surgical complications leads to many potentially preventable deaths. In an article for the journal Nature, Jiang et al. They talked about the achievements of bioengineering that solve this problem by fundamentally changing the structure of blood clots.

Cardiac resynchronisation therapy among adults with a systemic right ventricle: a multicentre experience Researchers conducted an international retrospective study including patients over 18 years of age from 33 centers with transposition of the great arteries (TGA) after atrial switch surgery and congenitally corrected TGA.

Cardiovascular disease in Sickle cell: mechanisms, diagnostics and therapeutic advances Cardiovascular complications are increasingly recognized as a major cause of morbidity and early mortality in patients with sickle cell disease, yet they remain underdiagnosed and underestimated. In a new review, the authors summarize current knowledge on a wide range of cardiovascular manifestations, including myocardial dysfunction, pulmonary hypertension, cardiac iron overload, arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, stroke, and sudden death, with an emphasis on their unique pathophysiological mechanisms in Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome.

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.

New Guidelines Expand Statin Eligibility to More Than Half of US Adults A new study has shown that the updated recommendations of the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology on dyslipidemia, published in March 2026, expand indications for statin therapy for primary prevention, now covering adults aged 30-79 years (instead of 40-75 years), assessing the risk for several decades ahead and using an updated risk calculator, which will allow such treatment to spread. 87.5 million adults in the United States.

Obesity and CVD: Launching the Heart Foundation's new clinical consensus statement In Australia, about two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese, placing them at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) including coronary heart disease, heart failure, and arrhythmias. The Heart Foundation recently launched an Australian-first clinical consensus statement on obesity and CVD.

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.

Upcoming Joint Guidelines to Address Obesity Management Upcoming evidence-based clinical guidelines from three obesity organizations will address US-based pharmacologic management of overweight/obesity and its complications in adults.

Resistant hypertension: a new look Modern management of patients with arterial hypertension requires a consistent approach to treatment and prevention, with particular attention paid to the problem of low adherence to treatment. Lifestyle optimization and elimination of secondary hypertension causes are identified as key strategies.

Results of the 36th International Congress of Cardiology "Great Wall" and the Asian Congress of Cardiology 2025 The 36th International Congress of Cardiology “Great Wall” and the Asian Congress of Cardiology 2025 took place at the National Exhibition Center in Beijing from October 16 to 19, 2025.

New guidelines may help prevent sudden death in myocarditis The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) recently released its 2025 guidelines for the management of myocarditis, which also includes extensive discussion of pericarditis and the wide range of overlap between these types of cardiac inflammation. The guidelines were presented at the ESC Congress 2025 in Madrid and simultaneously published in the European Heart Journal.