CARDIOPROGRESS
Foundation for the advancement of cardiology

Right-sided mechanical valve prostheses in adults with congenital heart disease Congenital heart disease (CHD) commonly includes right-sided valvular heart disease. Patients with CHD may require multiple sternotomies and interventions in their lifetime. The longevity of their replaced valve will be one of the most important factors determining freedom from re-intervention and overall prognosis. The European Society of Cardiology Guidelines for the management of adults with CHD have recommendations as to the indications and timing of pulmonary and tricuspid valve intervention.

Atrial Fibrillation Linked to Dementia, Especially When Diagnosed Before Age 65 Years Adults with atrial fibrillation (AF) are at increased risk for dementia, especially when AF occurs before age 65 years, new research shows. Investigators note the findings highlight the importance of monitoring cognitive function in adults with AF.

AF Tied to 45% Increase in Mild Cognitive Impairment Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with a 45% increased risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), an outcome that's linked to cardiovascular risk factors and multi-comorbidity, results of a new study suggest.

COVID Coronary Plaque Infection Confirms CV Risk New evidence shows for the first time that the virus that causes COVID directly infects atherosclerotic plaques in the coronary arteries, producing a persistent inflammatory response. The findings may not only explain the link between COVID and the increased risk of cardiovascular events but mark a starting point for new therapeutic approaches.

CKD Linked to Cardiac Arrest in Hispanic, Latinx Patients Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the strongest predictor of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in a population of Hispanic and Latinx patients, new data show, suggesting early identification of CKD may provide an opportunity to reduce the risk in these groups. Other predictors included heavy drinking, atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, heart failure and diabetes.

Ambient air pollution and maternal cardiovascular health in pregnancy Women represent a potentially susceptible group due to the delicate balance of the feto-placental circulation, rapid fetal development and tremendous physiological adaptations to the maternal cardiorespiratory system during pregnancy.

New TAVR System Promising in Pure Aortic Regurgitation Implantation of a specially designed transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) system is feasible and safe in patients with pure aortic regurgitation (AR), with no deaths and only one person needing a permanent pacemaker, a pilot first-in-human study shows.

Spreading Out Daily Meals and Snacks May Boost Heart Failure Survival Patients with heart failure (HF) who spread out the time between their first and last meal or snack of the day, regardless of daily caloric intake, may benefit with reduced risk for cardiovascular (CV) death, an observational study suggests.

Heart failure management in adults with congenital heart disease: are we on the ‘right path’? In recent years, surgical advances in the treatment of congenital heart disease (CHD) ensured a huge survival benefit. Therefore, the ageing population of adults with CHD is now frequently exposed to the long-term complications of living a long life with a deranged haemodynamics. Some groups of CHD constitute unique pathophysiological conditions, being predisposed to a wide array of undesired events in the long-term.

Transcatheter aortic valve intervention in patients with cancer The prevalence of concurrent cancer and severe aortic stenosis (AS) is increasing due to an ageing population. In addition to shared traditional risk factors for AS and cancer, patients with cancer may be at increased risk for AS due to off-target effects of cancer-related therapy, such as mediastinal radiation therapy (XRT), as well as shared non-traditional pathophysiological mechanisms.

Novel PCSK9 Inhibitor Reduced LDL by 50% Lerodalcibep, a novel, third-generation proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor, reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) by more than 50% after 1 year in patients with or at a high risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), new phase 3 results showed.

ACC/AHA Issue Updated Atrial Fibrillation Guideline The American College of Cardiology (ACC), the American Heart Association (AHA), the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), and the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) have issued an updated guideline for preventing and optimally managing atrial fibrillation (AF).

AHA Joins New Cardiovascular Certification Group ABCVM The American Heart Association (AHA) has now formally voted to join several other cardiovascular societies to form a new professional certification board for cardiovascular medicine, to be known as the American Board of Cardiovascular Medicine (ABCVM).

Coronary artery calcium: from risk prediction to treatment allocation and clinical trials Coronary artery calcium (CAC) is a direct measure of an individual’s coronary atherosclerotic burden.

FDA Okays First Extravascular ICD System The US Food and Drug Administration has approved Medtronic's novel "extravascular" implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (Aurora EV-ICD) system, which uses a single lead implanted substernally to allow anti-tachycardia pacing and low-energy defibrillation while avoiding the vascular space for lead placement.

New Tool to Guide Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Researchers developed TJ-ICE–guided TAVR to facilitate implanting a heart valve at an optimal depth, guided by direct visualization of the membranous septum (MS) during the procedure.

Redefining CVD Risk: Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) Syndrome Citing the strong overlap between heart disease, kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity, the American Heart Association (AHA) has for the first time formally defined what they are calling cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome.

ACP Revises Standard on Cardiorespiratory Death Determination The American College of Physicians (ACP) has issued a new position paper on determination of death that includes a clarification to the 1981 Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA), but otherwise reaffirms the current standards.

AHA Updates CPR Guidelines on Cardiac Arrest After Poisoning The American Heart Association (AHA) has released a focused update on managing patients with cardiac arrest or life-threatening toxicity due to poisoning. The update reflects treatment advances and new knowledge, including the use of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) for patients whose condition is refractory to poison antidotes and other therapies.

Nobel Prize Awarded to Covid Vaccine Pioneers The physiology or medicine prize for Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman recognized work that led to the development of vaccines that were administered to billions around the world.