Acute Coronary Syndromes

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is most commonly caused by a heart attack (myocardial infarction) where blood flow to the heart is suddenly blocked. This is usually caused by a blood clot from a ruptured coronary artery atherosclerotic plaque. Other causes include spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), which most commonly occurs in women. ACS is usually treated in a cath lab with angioplasty and the placement of a stent to prop the vessel open.

AI-powered coronary plaque assessments show ‘strong agreement’ with IVUS
HeartFlow's noninvasive Plaque Analysis technology, which uses AI to evaluate CCTA images, delivered assessments that mostly lined up with IVUS results.
World Health Organization urges countries to limit salt intake to reduce risk of CVD, hypertension
The group wants countries to implement population-wide changes that can keep salt intake to a minimum. It estimates that such policies could save up to 900,000 lives in just a few years.
Mammogram findings linked to heightened risk of CVD, type 2 diabetes and hypertension
The new research, presented during ARRS 2024 in Boston, suggests CVD risk models may need to include certain findings identified in routine mammograms.
$Performing CT-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) before transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) improves the accuracy of coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and helps limit unneeded invasive coronary angiography (ICA), according to a new study published in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions. Heartflow$
AI-based CAD assessments dramatically improve vascular surgery outcomes
PAD patients evaluated with HeartFlow's noninvasive FFR_CTAnalysis technology prior to surgery experienced much better outcomes, including a 63% lower risk of all-cause mortality after five years.
Even lenient plant-based diets can help older adults live longer
Healthy diets that prioritize plant-based foods were associated with reductions in both all-cause mortality or CVD mortality. Diets do not have to be strictly vegan or vegetarian to make that impact, researchers noted.

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests: EMS crews could save 10K lives with updated equipment

Physicians estimate they’ll save 10,000 lives a year if sudden cardiac arrest patients are resuscitated with laryngeal tubes rather than conventional endotracheal intubation, according to a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded study published this month in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

August 29, 2018

Cardiologists weigh in on new definition of 'myocardial infarction'

Major cardiology associations joined forces to define and standardize what exactly constitutes a heart attack, differentiating between myocardial infarction (MI) and “myocardial injury” while offering guidance on how to incorporate emerging imaging techniques and high-sensitivity troponin assays.

August 28, 2018

Patients with depression, anxiety more likely to experience heart attack, stroke

Middle-aged men and women with psychological conditions such as anxiety and depression are likely at an increased risk for cardiovascular complications, according to research out of Australia.

August 28, 2018

Daily aspirin unlikely to prevent 1st heart attack

Though it’s used routinely to discourage repeat cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, a daily dose of aspirin is unlikely to prevent a first-time heart attack, according to research presented this week in Munich.

August 27, 2018

Excessive forehead wrinkles may be early sign of atherosclerosis

Numerous, deep forehead wrinkles could be a visual cue that a patient is more at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to research presented Aug. 26 at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress in Munich.

August 27, 2018

Daily e-cigarette users double their risk for MI

Though e-cigarettes have generally been viewed as “less risky” than conventional cigarettes, new research published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine suggests the alternative can double the risk of developing myocardial infarction (MI).

August 22, 2018

Gout associated with doubled risk of death from heart failure

A clinical history of gout is associated with worse outcomes in patients with obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), according to research published on Aug. 17 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

August 21, 2018

Could a genetic test ID people who are high risk for heart attack?

Harvard scientist Sekar Kathiresan, MD, believes polygenic risk score could help identify people at high risk for heart attack. Kathiresan, director of the Cardiovascular Disease Initiative at the Broad Institute and a professor at Harvard Medical School, said polygenic risk scores, based on genetic testing, will be as commonly known as cholesterol levels.

August 14, 2018

Acute Coronary Syndromes

AI-powered coronary plaque assessments show ‘strong agreement’ with IVUS

World Health Organization urges countries to limit salt intake to reduce risk of CVD, hypertension

Mammogram findings linked to heightened risk of CVD, type 2 diabetes and hypertension

AI-based CAD assessments dramatically improve vascular surgery outcomes

Even lenient plant-based diets can help older adults live longer