Clinical

This channel newsfeed includes clinical content on treating patients or the clinical implications in a variety of cardiac subspecialties and disease states. The channel includes news on cardiac surgery, interventional cardiology, heart failure, electrophysiology, hypertension, structural heart disease, use of pharmaceuticals, and COVID-19.

Report: UnitedHealth rewarded nursing homes for delaying hospital transfers
Citing evidence from documents and interviews, the Guardian released an exposé accusing UnitedHealth of directly influencing the day-to-day operations of some 2,000 nursing homes, resulting in patients not receiving necessary emergency care.
FDA wants new heart damage warnings added to COVID-19 vaccines
COVID-19 vaccines are associated with a very low risk of myocarditis and/or pericarditis, primarily in young adults. The long-term impact of this risk has been the subject of many studies and debates over the years; one side says that the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks, and the other side says that even the smallest risk of heart damage is too high.
Early TAVR or SAVR in asymptomatic patients linked to improved survival, reduced costs
Researchers explored data from more than 24,000 AVR patients, presenting their findings at EuroPCR in Paris.
Work begins on first ATTR-CM study of its kind
ACT-EARLY is testing the hypothesis that treating asymptomatic carriers of a pathogenic TTR variant with the drug acoramidis could delay amyloidosis from developing.
FDA outlines stricter ‘evidence-based approach’ to COVID vaccinations
The FDA is revising its approach to COVID-19 vaccine approvals, moving away from the previous trend of treating boosters like annual flu shots. Health researcher Vinay Prasad and Commissioner Martin Makary argue in the New England Journal of Medicine for more rigorous data requirements and additional clinical studies to justify future inoculations for those under 65.

COAPT update: How AFib affects TMVR outcomes

The new analysis, published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions, focused on data from more than 600 patients who participated in the COAPT trial.

Minor impairments in systolic function linked to heart failure, HFrEF in late life

Tracking a patient's longitudinal strain and circumferential strain may improve the ability to predict their risk of heart failure later in life.

TMVR for pediatric patients: ‘Acutely effective and safe, with very encouraging results’

The analysis included eight consecutive pediatric patients who underwent TMVR with the Sapien S3 valve. The median patient age was 9 years old.

Beta-blocker use not associated with depression—but it may be tied to unusual dreams, insomnia

Overall, the study's authors found that depression was just as likely when patients took beta-blockers or a placebo.

More countries suspend use of AstraZeneca vaccine due to potential blood clot risk

The World Health Organization and European Medicines Agency have both repeatedly indicated that this does not appear to be a significant issue, but the two organizations are studying the situation closely.

Heart attacks more likely to be missed in women than men

When treating female patients, researchers explained, physicians are less likely to think there is potential for a heart attack.

Several countries pause use of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine due to blood clot concerns—US still sitting on millions of doses

While countries around the world have shared concerns, the World Health Organization and European Medicines Agency both still support the use of the vaccine.

Plant-based diets associated with a lower risk of stroke—but not if they are full of junk food

Eating a healthy plant-based diet—meaning a diet high in plant-based foods, not necessarily one that is exclusively plant-based—has been linked with lowering a person’s overall stroke risk by up to 10%.

Clinical

Report: UnitedHealth rewarded nursing homes for delaying hospital transfers

FDA wants new heart damage warnings added to COVID-19 vaccines

Early TAVR or SAVR in asymptomatic patients linked to improved survival, reduced costs

Work begins on first ATTR-CM study of its kind

FDA outlines stricter ‘evidence-based approach’ to COVID vaccinations