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.

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DOACs trump warfarin for heart attack prevention in AFib patients

Compared to warfarin, the direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) apixaban, rivaroxaban and dabigatran are all associated with a reduced risk of myocardial infarction, according to a Danish registry study of consecutive patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AFib).

Patients who experience adverse change in employment have worse health status, financial hardships

Patients who experience an adverse change in employment—such as being laid off—after a heart attack reportedly have a lower quality of life, increased depression and more difficulty affording medications, according to a study published in Circulation on June 12.

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Advanced heart attack blood test to be used as portable device

An advanced blood test to diagnose heart attacks, currently in development by researchers at King’s College London, could be administered using a handheld device, according to research presented on June 5 at the British Cardiovascular Society conference in Manchester, U.K.

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EVIDENT II trial: Smartphone apps may slow artery aging

Patients who utilize a healthy lifestyle smartphone application may be able to slow arterial aging, according to results from the EVIDENT II trial presented at EuroHeartCare 2018 in Dublin.

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Fewer reinfarctions, more resource use linked to high-sensitivity troponin adoption

The introduction of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) in Sweden was associated with an 11 percent reduction in reinfarctions among heart attack patients and increased use of coronary angiography and revascularization, according to a study published June 4 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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Current models overestimate CVD risk of 11.8M US adults

Updating the 2013 pooled cohort equations (PCEs) with more recent patient populations and new statistical methods results in approximately 11.8 million U.S. adults migrating to a lower-risk category, potentially affecting which therapies they would be indicated for to combat atherosclerosis.

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Green tea component may prevent heart attack, stroke

A compound found in green tea can break up the plaque that causes atherosclerosis, according to research published May 31 in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Getinge announces results from SEMPER FI pilot study of intra-aortic balloon pump showing numerical trend toward reduced mortality in patients with extensive myocardial infarction and persistent ischemia

WAYNE, N.J., May 25, 2018 — Getinge, a leading global provider of innovative medical technology, today announced results from the Survival Improvement in Extensive Myocardial Infarction with PERsistent Ischemia Following IABP Implantation (SEMPER FI) pilot study.