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.

PFA associated with elevated risk of heart damage, real-world data show

Patient outcomes do not appear to be negatively impacted by these risks, researchers noted. The new data were presented at Heart Rhythm 2025 and published in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology.

Marijuana may cause less lung damage than cigarettes

CT scans don't lie—cigarettes are harder on the lungs than marijuana

Many have touted smoking marijuana as a safer alternative to cigarettes. New imaging data offer clarity on whether this notion is actually true.

Champagne could be good for the heart—and other lessons from a new risk analysis

Researchers explored the potential impact of more than 100 risk factors on a person's risk of sudden cardiac arrest. Some of their findings were what you may expect, but others were much more surprising.

doctor with overweight patient who may be treated with TAVR or surgery

Bayer's finerenone reduces risk of AFib, atrial flutter in all CKM syndrome patients

New data published in JACC represents another big win for Bayer's finerenone. The drug has previously been linked to cardiovascular benefits for patients with CKD and heart failure, but its potential across the full CKM spectrum remained a bit of a mystery.

Society of Thoracic Surgeons shares new risk calculator for aortic surgeries

Society of Thoracic Surgeons shares new risk calculator for complex aortic procedures

The new resource was built to help care teams plan for ascending aorta and aortic root surgeries.

Heart Rhythm 2025 Heart Rhythm Society President Kenneth A. Ellenbogen, MD

PFA takes center stage at Heart Rhythm 2025 as medtech companies share new data

Pulsed field ablation was one of the biggest topics at Heart Rhythm 2025, the annual meeting of the Heart Rhythm Society. Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson MedTech, Boston Scientific, Abbott, Kardium and Field Medical all shared new data at the conference highlighting the safety and effectiveness of their advanced PFA technologies.

OmniaSecure defibrillation lead for placement within a patient’s right ventricle

Medtronic receives FDA approval for smallest defibrillation lead of its kind

Medtronic emphasized that this device should be especially valuable when treating younger patients or those with a small anatomy.

HHS sued over RFK’s $11B cuts to infectious disease control

The Department of Health and Human Services is refusing to allocate funds meant to support state and local healthcare initiatives, as the money stemmed from now-defunct COVID-19 control efforts. A coalition of municipalities is suing to lift the block.

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