Very low-calorie ketogenic diet tied to greater BP reduction than intermittent fasting
February 11 ,2025
Overview:Women with hypertension who followed a very low-calorie ketogenic diet had greater reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure than those who engaged in intermittent fasting, researchers reported.In an open-label trial, researchers randomly assigned women aged 50 to 65 years with a BMI of at least 25 kg/m2 and a diagnosis of essential uncomplicated arterial hypertension who were on antihypertensive therapy for at least 6 months to a very low-calorie ketogenic diet, participate in intermittent fasting or have no dietary restrictions for 6 months. In addition to having the largest more
Inaccurate aspirin allergy labels increase odds for poor stroke outcomes
February 11 ,2025
Overview:Patients with stroke and inaccurate NSAID allergy labels had poorer outcomes including major adverse cardiovascular events, peripheral vascular disease and death, according to a study published in Stroke.Multidisciplinary interventions may improve these outcomes, Philip Li Hei, MD, clinical assistant professor, department of medicine, School of Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong, and colleagues wrote.“It is well known that the overwhelming majority of penicillin ‘allergy’ labels — the most common implicated drug — are incorrect, and more
Research community braces for 'profoundly negative impact' of NIH cuts
February 10 ,2025
Overview:NIH’s decision to cut what it pays universities and other entities for indirect costs associated with scientific research would have immediate and far-reaching consequences, according to many academic institutions and professional societies.The cuts would reduce federal funding to University of Pennsylvania by nearly $250 million per year and “have a profoundly negative impact on Penn’s research enterprise,” according to a statement provided to Healio.“Research at Penn funded by NIH has enriched the world in innumerable ways, whether combatting cancer with more
DOACs lower stroke, raise hemorrhage risk in those with prior brain hemorrhage plus AF
February 10 ,2025
Overview:The benefit of direct oral anticoagulants on stroke risk in patients with prior intracerebral hemorrhage and atrial fibrillation was partially offset by increased risk for future hemorrhage risk, a speaker reported.The results of the PRESTIGE-AF trial evaluating the effects of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in patients with AF and prior intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) were presented at the International Stroke Conference.“Stroke prevention in ICH survivors is an important unmet need. ICH patients are at increased risk of recurrent ICH,” Roland Veltkamp, MD, professor of more
Imaging analysis software accurately detects subdural hematoma
February 10 ,2025
Overview:A novel imaging analysis technique registered a high degree of sensitivity and specificity in identifying both presence and type of subdural hematoma, or SDH, data from a comparative analysis show.“Hemorrhage management has often been overshadowed by more common ischemic cases, but with recent advancements in hemorrhage treatment like MMA embolization, there is a greater interest in understanding how to improve detection of treatment-eligible patients,” Jeremy J. Heit, MD, PhD, associate professor of radiology and neurosurgery at Stanford Medicine, told Healio.The study was more
Intensive BP lowering did not improve functional outcomes after EVT for stroke
February 07 ,2025
Overview:Intensive BP lowering after successful endovascular thrombectomy for acute anterior circulation ischemic stroke did not improve 90-day functional outcomes vs. standard BP control, a speaker reported.The results of the IDENTIFY trial, which was halted early due to safety concerns, were presented at the International Stroke Conference.“Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) has become the standard treatment for acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion. However, although recanalization can be achieved in more than 80% of patients who had received EVT, more than half of these patients more
Q&A: How low-dose aspirin in pregnancy can reduce heart disease risk for Black women
February 07 ,2025
Overview:The Preeclampsia Foundation launched a new initiative that aims to close the maternal health equity gap and promote the use of low-dose aspirin to reduce preeclampsia risk in Black women.“We know in this country that maternal mortality for Black women is at least two times higher than that for non-Hispanic white women, and in some areas of this country that can be as much as 12 times higher,” Cornelia R. Graves, MD, maternal-fetal medicine subspecialist at Tennessee Maternal Fetal Medicine and member of the Preeclampsia Foundation’s Medical Advisory Board, told Healio. “We more
Wegovy may reduce need for antihypertensive, lipid-lowering therapies
February 07 ,2025
Overview:Adults receiving semaglutide for the treatment of obesity were more likely to have antihypertensive or lipid-lowering therapy tapered or discontinued than those receiving placebo, according to data from the STEP trials.Researchers pooled data on antihypertensive and lipid-lowering medication use from the STEP 1, 2, 3, 6 and 8 trials in a post hoc analysis published in Obesity. Researchers found a higher proportion of adults receiving semaglutide 2.4 mg (Wegovy, Novo Nordisk) decreased the intensity of or stopped entirely using antihypertensive or lipid-lowering therapy at 68 weeks compared more
Contents of foods advertised during NFL games may exacerbate chronic diseases
February 06 ,2025
Overview:Foods advertised during NFL games were typically high in content like fat, sodium and calories, a cross-sectional analysis in JAMA Network Open showed.The data indicate that people with certain chronic diseases like heart failure “should be counseled by clinicians about limiting dietary intake of most foods advertised during professional football games,” the researchers wrote.Regarding the results, “it’s probably one of those things where everybody knows it, but no one actually tabulated it in the past,” Paul J. Hauptman, MD, dean of the University of Neveda, more
‘Walk ‘n Watch’ protocol boosts quality of life after stroke
February 06 ,2025
Overview:A protocol designed to progressively increase physical therapy intensity for stroke survivors improved walking distance, speed and quality of life compared with standard care, data presented at the International Stroke Conference show.While guidelines currently recommend progressive exercise after a stroke, Janice J. Eng, PhD, a professor in the neurorehabilitation research program in the department of physical therapy at the University of British Columbia, said in a press release related to the study that uptake is lagging. So, Eng and colleagues tested the implementation of the “Walk N’ more
Heart disease remains the No. 1 cause of death in women: Why?
February 06 ,2025
Overview:February is American Heart Month, a highlight of which is Wear Red Day, which aims to raise awareness about heart disease in women, on the first Friday of the month.Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in women. Many factors unique to women can raise heart disease risk, including pregnancy-related conditions and hormonal changes related to menopause. While efforts have been made to raise awareness of women’s heart health, many challenges persist: symptoms of heart disease in women are underrecognized and underreported and women are underrepresented in cardiology clinical trials and more
Pregnant women with psoriasis at greater risk for cardiovascular complications at delivery
February 06 ,2025
Overview:Pregnant patients with psoriasis hospitalized for delivery have a higher risk for preeclampsia, cardiac arrhythmias and other cardiovascular complications, according to a study.“Of importance for reproductive-age women, psoriasis is an independent predictor for maternal cardiovascular complications,” Ankit Agrawal, MD, an internist in the department of cardiovascular medicine in the Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute at Cleveland Clinic, and colleagues wrote. “A systematic review and meta-analysis by Rahmati [and colleagues] demonstrated significant associations more
Q&A: Lower blood thinner dose can reduce bleeding risk
February 06 ,2025
Overview:Reduced dosing of direct oral anticoagulants may offer comparable efficacy as full dosing for adults with venous thromboembolism history while decreasing bleeding risk and reducing health care utilization, according to study results.Researchers at Michigan Medicine conducted a registry-based cohort study of 978 adults undergoing direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) therapy for blood clots to evaluate whether clinical outcomes differed between those who had doses reduced after initially receiving full therapeutic dosing and those who continued to receive full therapeutic doses.Patients included in more
‘Alarming gaps in knowledge’: Exploring the intersection of reproductive health and the heart
February 05 ,2025
Overview:Recent research reported that women with endometriosis have an approximately 20% increased risk for stroke and a 35% greater risk for heart attack compared with women without endometriosis.Although this research, presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in September, is not definitive, it raises yet another disease state unique to women that may increase CV risk alongside other conditions such as gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes and preeclampsia.Female-specific conditions contribute to heart disease, yet the mechanisms driving this connection remain unclear. What’s more
Air pollution exposure elevates risk for blood clot hospitalization
February 05 ,2025
Overview:Long-term exposure to certain air pollutants significantly increased risk for venous thromboembolism, according to results of an observational study.Adults who had higher exposure to fine particulate matter equal to or less than 2.5 micrometers in aerodynamic diameter, oxides of nitrogen and nitrogen dioxide — all common pollutants — had a higher likelihood of developing blood clots than those who had lower exposure.“This study supports the case for global efforts on pollution reduction to curtail pollution-related adverse health outcomes,” Pamela L. Lutsey, PhD, MPH, more
Senators vote on party lines to advance RFK Jr. nomination for HHS secretary
February 04 ,2025
Overview:Senators voted on party lines Tuesday to advance the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be the next U.S. health secretary.The vote by the Senate Finance committee was 14-13 in favor of sending the nomination to the full Senate for consideration. All 14 Republicans on the committee voted in favor of the nomination; all 13 Democrats opposed it.The 14 “yea” votes included Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, MD, a physician who was seen as a potential swing vote against Kennedy’s nomination.In addition to being a member of the Finance Committee, Cassidy chairs the Committee on more
Q&A: Dermatologist talks frostbite as Groundhog Day predicts 6 more weeks of winter
February 04 ,2025
Overview:Between Groundhog Day’s prediction for 6 more weeks of winter and the recent cold fronts rushing into both northern and southern states, wintery weather may linger this year – and with it, the chance for frostbite could stick around, too.Healio Dermatology spoke with Anthony Rossi, MD, FAAD, FACMS, assistant attending of dermatologic, Mohs, cosmetic and laser surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and founder of Dr. Rossi Derm MD Skincare, about the risks of frostbite and dermatologists’ role in treating affected patients.Healio: What is frostbite and how do more
COVID-19-causing virus linked to coronary plaque progression, risk for MI, death
February 04 ,2025
Overview:SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with more rapid coronary plaque progression and significantly increased risk for adverse outcomes related to target lesion failure, such as heart attack and death, researchers reported.A retrospective analysis of the CHART-VISION trial was conducted to assess the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on coronary plaque and adverse CV outcomes and was published in Radiology.“COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is initially characterized by acute lung injury, respiratory failure and death. However, emerging evidence indicates that COVID-19 is also characterized by an more
Q&A: Closing a ‘clear gap’ in postpartum care to reduce heart disease
February 04 ,2025
Overview:Women who experience adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preeclampsia or gestational diabetes are at high risk for CVD, yet many of these women are not properly assessed and followed during the critical postpartum period.The postpartum and interpregnancy periods are key windows of opportunity to assess a women’s CV risk and develop a comprehensive plan to improve their health across the life course. Despite the known risks, evidence-based approaches to managing these patients were lacking, according to Rachel M. Bond, MD, FACC, systems director of women’s heart health at Dignity more
FDA clears first assay designed to measure lipoprotein(a) in nanomoles
February 04 ,2025
Overview:Roche announced its next generation assay received FDA 510(k) clearance for the measurement of lipoprotein(a) for assessment of CV risk.The assay (Tina-quant Gen.2) is the first Lp(a) assay available in the U.S. designed to measure Lp(a) in nmol/L, according to a company press release.“Current FDA-cleared assays on the market measure Lp(a) in mass units — mg/dL,” Laura Parnas, PhD, lab value lead at Roche Diagnostics Medical & Scientific Affairs, told Healio. “As Lp(a) has no single, defined molecular weight and can vary in size, measuring the number of particles 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