Q&A: How medical school applicants can navigate SCOTUS ruling against affirmative action
June 19 ,2025
Overview:Despite a Supreme Court ruling against race-conscious admissions, medical school applicants can still recognize their diverse backgrounds in personal essays, leaving a small opening for affirmative action, according to an expert.In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court decided against affirmative action — specifically, race-conscious college admissions — in a 6 to 3 vote, Billy Thomas, MD, MPH, a professor of neonatology and pediatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, wrote in the Annals of Family Medicine.“Based partially on the idea that enough time had elapsed more
How safe is it to drink alcohol? Here is what doctors can take away from clashing reports
June 19 ,2025
Overview:Two major reports meant to inform the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans on the health effects of alcohol have stirred up controversy and confusion.A 252-page review from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) concluded with moderate certainty that moderate alcohol intake lowered the risk for all-cause and CVD-related mortality vs. no alcohol consumption.These findings conflict with a report by the HHS’ Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking, or ICCPUD, which indicated that even low amounts of alcohol consumption more
Screening, treatment of hypercortisolism essential with cardio-renal-metabolic diseases
June 19 ,2025
Overview:PHILADELPHIA — Hypercortisolism is tied to multiple cardio-renal-metabolic disorders, making cortisol level screening an important part of patient monitoring, according to speakers at the Heart in Diabetes CME Conference.The interplay between hypercortisolism and cardio-renal-metabolic disorders was the centerpiece of three talks at the meeting. The presentations examined how hypercortisolism impacts endocrine, renal and cardiac health and why health care professionals need to pay close attention to cortisol levels in some patient populations.“Hypercortisolism, both extreme with more
GLP-1s may reduce cardiovascular risk in rheumatoid arthritis treated with JAK inhibitors
June 19 ,2025
Overview:GLP-1 receptor agonists may significantly reduce the risk for cardiovascular events in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with Janus kinase inhibitors, according to data presented at the EULAR 2025 Congress.“Our aim was to investigate whether GLP-1 receptor agonists could have a protective effect for the treatment of RA patients on JAK inhibitors to reduce cardiovascular adverse events,” Asmaa Beltagy, MD, of the faculty of medicine and rheumatology department at Alexandria University, in Egypt, told attendees.The retrospective analysis included two cohorts of 2,449 more
GOLD-STANDARD trial will test novel combination therapy for diabetic kidney disease
June 18 ,2025
Overview:With only one medication historically used to treat diabetic kidney disease, study of combination therapies with newer medicines is warranted and may improve outcomes in this patient population, a speaker reported.Ayodele Odutayo, MD, DPhil, assistant professor in the department of medicine, clinical scientist and nephrologist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, led a presentation on combination treatment for optimal kidney and CV outcomes and shared details of a planned trial to evaluate just that.Odutayo was also presented with the Rising Star Award in Diabetes Cardiorenal & more
Study: Proposed Medicaid cuts could lead to thousands of preventable deaths annually
June 17 ,2025
Overview:Congress passing the controversial One Big Beautiful Bill Act could leave millions without insurance and lead to at least 16,000 annual preventable deaths, according to research published in Annals of Internal Medicine.In May, the House of Representatives Budget Committee advanced a bill incorporating several spending reductions “to offset revenue losses from proposed tax cuts,” Adam Gaffney, MD, MPH, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and physician at the Cambridge Health Alliance, and colleagues wrote.The legislation — known colloquially as the “Big, more
Research updates in health technology, nutrition and diabetes management
June 17 ,2025
Overview:PHILADELPHIA — At the Heart in Diabetes CME Conference, speakers highlighted four recent reports published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology focusing on health technology, diet, diabetic cardiomyopathy and lifestyle.“We are extremely excited to present the first JACC session in a long time,” Neha J. Pagidipati, MD, MPH, assistant professor of medicine and cardiovascular disease prevention specialist at Duke University School of Medicine and co-chair of the joint session with JACC, said at the start of the presentations.Read on for this year’s more
Prenatal exposure to toxic forever chemicals may harm children’s heart health
June 16 ,2025
Overview:Fetal exposure to toxic “forever chemicals” during pregnancy was linked to higher than normal blood pressure during growth to adulthood, researchers reported.A study tying prenatal perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure to CV health during child growth was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.“There is growing evidence that prenatal exposure to environmental pollutants can affect children’s long-term cardiovascular health. PFAS — ‘forever chemicals’ — are widespread in the environment and can cross more
‘Reimagining’ SGLT2s for new uses in and beyond cardio-renal-metabolic health
June 16 ,2025
Overview:PHILADELPHIA — Originally designed as glucose-lowering medications, SGLT2 inhibitors provide benefits across the cardio-renal-metabolic spectrum and may be indicated for other conditions in the future, according to a speaker.Silvio E. Inzucchi, MD, professor of medicine at Yale University School of Medicine, discussed how SGLT2 inhibitors evolved from strictly medications to lower HbA1c in type 2 diabetes to drugs indicated for lowering the risk for major adverse cardiovascular events, heart failure and chronic kidney disease. Additionally, more recent research is showing SGLT2s may more
AMA resolution calls for broader access to GLP-1 medications
June 13 ,2025
Overview:The AMA passed a resolution to increase access to anti-obesity medications at its annual House of Delegates meeting.The resolution was championed by the Endocrine Society, according to a press release, and builds upon existing AMA policy that advocates for improved access to other obesity treatments, like bariatric surgery.Research has indicated GLP-1 receptor agonists are an effective medication to help adults lose an average 15% to 20% of their weight, but Medicare is prohibited by law from covering the cost of these medications, and less than 20% of large employers cover their costs, more
From medical leader to writing ‘intern,’ cardiologist brings experience to storytelling
June 13 ,2025
Overview:After decades of experience in medical writing, Doug Zipes, MD, decided to try his hand at a different medium: fiction writing.Five novels later, Zipes’ expertise in medicine and passion for history come together in Ari’s Spoon, a thrilling modern tale combined with the historical backdrop of World War II.On Wednesday, June 25 at 6:30 p.m. EST, Zipes will join Hansa Bhargava, MD, for a free webinar on Healio Community to discuss the book, his practice and how professionals can start self-publishing novels. You can register for the event here. The webinar is meant to be a more
Topline data show efficacy, safety of novel oral PCSK9 inhibitor for LDL lowering
June 13 ,2025
Overview:Enlicitide decanoate demonstrated meaningful LDL lowering in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and those with hyperlipidemia vs. placebo and other lipid-lowering therapies, Merck reported.Topline data from the phase 3 CORALreef HeFH and CORALreef AddOn clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of enlicitide decanoate (MK-0616), an investigational oral PCSK9 inhibitor, for treatment of adults with HeFH and hyperlipidemia already on lipid-lowering therapy were announced in a company press release.CORALreef HeFH was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled more
Three cardio-renal-metabolic takeaways from Heart in Diabetes
June 13 ,2025
Overview:PHILADELPHIA — Hypertension treatment and the role of cortisol in cardio-renal-metabolic health were among the featured topics from this year’s Heart in Diabetes CME Conference, according to Richard E. Pratley, MD.Pratley, the Samuel E. Crockett Chair in Diabetes Research, medical director of AdventHealth Diabetes Institute and a Healio | Endocrine Today Co-editor, said this year’s conference emphasized how cardiac, endocrine and renal conditions intertwine and focused on ways health care professional can improve clinical outcomes for their patients. At the conclusion of the more
AMA strengthens guidance on corporate relationships in medicine
June 12 ,2025
Overview:At the AMA’s annual meeting, members voted to strengthen the organization’s guidance for any physicians considering entering a relationship with a corporation.Investment from corporations “can offer an alternative to selling a practice to a hospital or health system,” according to a press release from the AMA.The AMA recently released a survey that revealed the top reasons physicians sold their practices to corporations in the past decade, which included inadequate payment rates, a need for improved access to expensive resources, and better management of payers’ more
Dyslipidemia in younger women: Recognize risk, start early with lifestyle modification
June 12 ,2025
Overview:PHILADELPHIA — Lipid management for woman requires personalized care that considers sex-specific conditions across the reproductive lifespan, particularly during pregnancy, Pam R. Taub, MD, said during the Heart in Diabetes CME Conference.“When we talk about the lifespan of women, we typically focus on lipid management in middle-aged and elderly women; we really don’t focus on lipid management at the younger spectrum,” like in adolescence and in pregnant women,” said Taub, who is founder and director of the Step Family Foundation Cardiac Rehabilitation and more
JAK inhibitors do not increase risk for cardiovascular events vs TNF inhibitors, DMARDs
June 12 ,2025
Overview:Patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with Janus kinase inhibitors do not demonstrate increased risks for major cardiovascular complications vs. TNF inhibitors or other biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, data show.“Our results suggest that overall, RA patients treated with JAK inhibitors do not incur an increased risk of [major adverse cardiovascular events] compared to alternative biologic DMARDs, particularly within the first 2 years of therapy,” Romain Aymon, MSc, from the division of rheumatology at Geneva University Hospitals, in Switzerland, and colleagues more
A ‘call to action’ to reverse trend of rising CVD mortality in US
June 11 ,2025
Overview:PHILADELPHIA — Though cardiovascular disease mortality rates remain high in the U.S., the tools and knowledge are in place to reverse trends in the coming years, Seth S. Martin, MD, MHS, said at the Heart in Diabetes CME Conference.Absolute CVD mortality has been on the rise since 2012, according to Martin, who is professor of medicine in the division of cardiology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, faculty member at the Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, director of the Digital Health Innovations Lab and the Advanced Lipid Disorders Program, and a Healio | more
Daily cup of beans improves heart health in those with prediabetes
June 10 ,2025
Overview:ORLANDO — Eating a cup of beans daily reduced inflammation and improved cholesterol levels in people with prediabetes, a randomized control study presented at the annual NUTRITION meeting showed.“I think something that primary care physicians could take away from our study is that intervening before the onset of disease was effective for this particular group, particularly in the markers that are associated with CVD-like lipids,” Morganne M. Smith, MS, a doctoral candidate at Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and lead study author, told Healio.In the analysis, the more
High fasting insulin may raise odds for abnormal uterine bleeding
June 10 ,2025
Overview:Reproductive-aged women with high fasting insulin levels could be more likely to report abnormal uterine bleeding, according to data published in Menopause.In a cross-sectional study conducted at a single institution, researchers collected data from 205 women aged 18 to 54 years. Of the participants, 116 reported having abnormal uterine bleeding and 89 had normal menstrual cycles. After fasting blood samples were analyzed, a higher percentage of women with abnormal uterine bleeding had hyperinsulinemia vs. those with normal menstrual cycles. Additionally, in logistic regression analysis, more
FDA approves first polypill for initial treatment of hypertension
June 09 ,2025
Overview:George Medicines announced the FDA approval of its triple therapy polypill for initial treatment of adults with hypertension.The polypill (Widaplik) — formerly known as GMRx2 — contains three separate drugs for treatment of high BP: telmisartan, an angiotensin receptor blocker; amlodipine, a calcium channel blocker; and indapamide, a thiazide-like diuretic.The polypill is available in three doses and is the first triple combination to be FDA-approved as initial therapy in patients who may need multiple drugs to reach their BP goals, according to a company press release.Approval more
No UHC Without NCDs: Urging Progress Ahead of 2030
May 28 ,2025
Overview:This constituency statement was led by NCD Alliance and the World Heart Federation under agenda item 13.3 – Universal Health Coverage – at the Seventy-Eighth World Health Assembly. Distinguished delegates, There can be no Universal Health Coverage without addressing noncommunicable diseases and mental health – these are central to efforts to realise UHC. Yet, […] The post No UHC Without NCDs: Urging Progress Ahead of 2030 appeared first on World Heart Federation. more
Optimal Antiplatelet Therapy In NSTE-ACS: Results From A Novel Crowdsourcing Survey
July 07 ,2021
Overview:The choice and duration of antiplatelet therapy in NSTE-ACS undergoing PCI is complex and is a hotly debated topic – particularly amongst patients at high bleeding risk. To gain insight […] more
Results of an international crowdsourcing survey on the utilisation of antiplatelet therapy in NSTE-ACS
June 09 ,2021
Overview:Choosing an antiplatelet strategy in patients with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) at high bleeding risk (HBR), undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), is complex given that one must […] more
Hello world!
February 04 ,2021
Overview:Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing! The post Hello world! appeared first on World Heart Federation. more
ACC.20/WCC Virtual continues!
April 05 ,2020
Overview:The World Heart Federation and American College of Cardiology held their first ever virtual congress March 28-30. But it’s not over. All of the ACC.20/WCC Virtual live sessions are now available […] more
2020 ISCP Annual Meeting cancelled
February 26 ,2020
Overview:Notice of Cancellation We regret to have to inform our colleagues and friends that the 2020 ISCP Annual Scientific Meeting in Miami will now be cancelled. The Board of Directors […] more
European Cardiology Review (ECR) now on PubMed and PubMed Central
October 30 ,2018
Overview: European Cardiology Review (ECR) confirms that it has been accepted for indexing on PubMed Central and PubMed. All ECR articles starting from the first issue in July 2014, […] more
WHF to attend the WHO Executive Board meeting in January 2017
January 23 ,2017
Overview:From 23 January to 01 February 2017, the World Health Organization(WHO) will host the 140th session. From 23 January to 01 February 2017, the World Health Organization(WHO) will host the […] more