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.

Cardiology, radiology specialists debate CCTA’s rise as a go-to imaging modality for CAD
CCTA is being utilized more and more for the diagnosis and management of suspected coronary artery disease. An international group of specialists shared their perspective on this ongoing trend.
FDA clears credit card-sized heart monitor
The new device was designed to help patients evaluate their own heart health in real time.
TAVR/PCI bests SAVR/CABG when treating severe AS and complex CAD
Percutaneous treatment was linked to improved survival and fewer adverse events than surgery when patients presented with both symptomatic severe aortic stenosis and complex coronary artery disease.
More vulnerable, but still treatable: Frail heart patients benefit from PCI, CABG
High-risk patients are often treated with medical therapy alone instead of revascularization. However, new data make it clear that these patients can live much longer when treated with PCI or CABG.
Genetic predisposition to depression increases CVD risk in women, but not men
The heightened risks were even seen in women who were never diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder. It remains unclear why the same trend was not seen in men.

How the science behind COVID-19 vaccines could transform care for heart attack patients

A technique seen in the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines may be able to help heart cells repair themselves, according to new research out of the Netherlands.

May 5, 2022

Unpaid student loan debt is bad for the heart

An American Journal of Preventive Medicine study highlights higher rates of cardiovascular disease for adults who fail to pay down student debt.

May 5, 2022

USPSTF updates its stance on aspirin use to prevent CVD, sees no benefit for patients 60 or older

These recommendations, the group emphasized, do not include patients with a history of CVD or those who are already taking aspirin for another reason.

April 26, 2022

Biden-Trump presidential election linked to a higher heart attack risk among white, male and older individuals

“There is a need for awareness of this higher risk of CVD, and further research is warranted to identify strategies that mitigate cardiovascular risk during notable political events,” researchers explained.

April 22, 2022

Mental illness strongly linked with higher CVD mortality

The associations between schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and cardiovascular mortality have grown in recent decades.

April 20, 2022

Deaths from MI, stroke and pulmonary embolism are down among kidney patients receiving dialysis

The new analysis, published in JAMA Network Open, focused on more than 220,000 dialysis patients treated from 1998 to 2015.

April 18, 2022

Is PCI without stenting safe for low-risk STEMI patients?

The study's authors examined data from the DANAMI-3 trial, focusing on such outcomes as all-cause mortality, recurrent MI and target vessel revascularization.

April 8, 2022

PCI vs. CABG for left main disease: Key takeaways from a new meta-analysis

Researchers explored data from five different randomized controlled trials, publishing their analysis in the American Journal of Cardiology.

April 5, 2022

Acute Coronary Syndromes

Cardiology, radiology specialists debate CCTA’s rise as a go-to imaging modality for CAD

FDA clears credit card-sized heart monitor

TAVR/PCI bests SAVR/CABG when treating severe AS and complex CAD

More vulnerable, but still treatable: Frail heart patients benefit from PCI, CABG

Genetic predisposition to depression increases CVD risk in women, but not men