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.

Dexcom issues new recall for CGM apps due to safety risk—users urged to update immediately
The FDA has categorized this as a Class I recall. If patients update their phone or watch apps as needed, they can continue to use these devices like normal.
Cardiologist sues hospital after he was allegedly let go for sharing safety concerns
The veteran interventional cardiologist claims he was pushed out after repeatedly asking for more coverage from cardiothoracic surgeons in addition to other improvements. The hospital, meanwhile, described the lawsuit as a “collection of false allegations."
Why all heart patients should be vaccinated against the flu, COVID-19, RSV
The American College of Cardiology has shared new recommendations highlighting the protective benefits of a variety of vaccines. The new guidance also examines how to speak with patients who are hesitant to be vaccinated.
Heart surgeons see more potential in AI than colleagues from other fields
Cardiac surgeons see significant value in AI's ability to assist clinicians with administrative tasks and patient selection. When it comes to making clinical decisions, however, there is still a certain amount of skepticism.
New Apple Watch Ultra 3 makes early hypertension detection a priority
"This tool empowers patients and clinicians to work together, putting prevention at the center of care," said Ami B. Bhatt, MD, ACC chief innovation officer. "What we really want to do is create patient agency and reach as many people as we can for earlier detection of high blood pressure."

Base excess trumps lactate levels in predicting mortality after heart surgery

A low measure of base excess (BE) upon admission to the ICU following cardiac surgery was independently predictive of ICU mortality—more so than increased lactate levels, researchers reported in PLOS One.

Cardiologist highlights potential harms of Apple Watch’s EKG function

“The people most in need of it, those who might benefit from tests and distance monitoring, are the least likely to get (the Apple Watch),” Aaron E. Carroll, MD, wrote in the New York Times. “If we truly believed this was a medical test beneficial to the general population, insurance should pay for it."

Study debunks sudden cardiac arrest being more common during the workweek

The long-held belief that sudden cardiac arrests (SCAs) occur most commonly on weekday mornings has been debunked by a team in Portland, Oregon, whose recent study of more than 1,500 SCA victims failed to identify any peak windows during which heart patients were prone to sudden cardiac death.

Study IDs predictors of mortality in asymptomatic aortic stenosis

Asymptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis are at greater risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality if they have higher peak aortic jet velocities or left ventricular ejection fractions (LVEFs) below 60 percent, researchers reported Oct. 3 in JAMA Cardiology.

Gender gap observed in early TAVI era closing

The considerable survival advantage observed in female patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) during the procedure’s earlier years has diminished in the contemporary TAVI era, according to research out of Petah Tikva, Israel, meaning men and women are seeing similar outcomes post-procedure.

Appetite suppressant lorcaserin shrinks probability of incident diabetes

Lorcaserin, an appetite suppressant approved for chronic weight management in 2012, reduced overweight patients’ risk for developing type 2 diabetes (T2D) and improved remission of hyperglycemia in a study of more than 12,000 Massachusetts residents, researchers reported.

3 days of home BP monitoring enough to confirm hypertension diagnosis

Three days’ worth of home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) data is enough to confirm a diagnosis of clinical hypertension and initiate treatment, according to research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Southern diet singled out as top factor for racial gap in hypertension

Adherence to a “Southern diet” may be the biggest driver of racial disparities in hypertension rates among black and white adults in the U.S., according to a prospective cohort study published Oct. 2 in JAMA.

Clinical

Dexcom issues new recall for CGM apps due to safety risk—users urged to update immediately

Cardiologist sues hospital after he was allegedly let go for sharing safety concerns

Why all heart patients should be vaccinated against the flu, COVID-19, RSV

Heart surgeons see more potential in AI than colleagues from other fields

New Apple Watch Ultra 3 makes early hypertension detection a priority