High-Sensitivity Troponin I Can Predict Mortality in Stable Patients Suspected to Have CAD The biomarker was more sensitive compared with other conventional troponin assays and predicted near-term MACE in low-risk patients.

Heightened levels of high sensitivity troponin I (hsTnI) can predict the near-term risk of death, acute myocardial infarction (MI), and hospitalization for unstable angina in stable symptomatic patients suspected to have coronary artery disease (CAD), according to a new study published in the Journal of American College of Cardiology. Continue reading →

Administration of Cangrelor In Addition to Crushed Ticagrelor Bridges Gap of Antiplatelet Inhibition in Patients Undergoing Primary PCI Results from the CANTIC study

According to a new study, Cangrelor could serve to bridge the gap of antiplatelet inhibition in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (P-PCI) for acute coronary syndrome, who were administered crushed ticagrelor. Additionally, no drug-drug interactions (DDI) were reported between the two P2Y12 inhibitors, based on the findings published in Circulation. Continue reading →

2018: Cardiology News at A Glance Most important trials published in 2018

COAPT trial

This prospective, multicenter, open-label, randomized trial aimed to assess the use of transcatheter mitral valve repair in heart failure (HF) patients with mitral regurgitation due to left ventricular dysfunction. A total of 614 patients were randomized to either receiving guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) alone or GDMT in addition to transcatheter mitral-valve repair. The primary efficacy endpoint was all hospitalizations due to heart failure at 24 months of follow-up, while the primary safety endpoint was freedom from device-related complications at 12 months of follow-up. The study showed that the device group had a lower risk of hospitalization for HF (HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.4-0.7) and all-cause mortality (HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.46-0.82) at 24 months. Moreover, the rate of freedom from device complications at 12 months was 96.6% which exceeded the prespecified safety threshold. Continue reading →

Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring: A Screening Tool For Statin Prescription In the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease? Impact of Statins on Cardiovascular Outcomes Following Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring

According to a new study published in the Journal of American College of Cardiology, patients with higher coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores were more likely to achieve benefit from statins in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Continue reading →

Does One Need A Parachute While Jumping From An Aircraft? A Clinical Trial Addresses the Question Results from the PARACHUTE trial

Parachute use on jumping from an aircraft does not reduce death or major traumatic injuries when compared with jumping with empty backpacks, according to a new trial published in the British Medical Journal. Continue reading →

Chronic Red Meat Consumption Associated With Increased TMAO Concentrations TMAO: Associated With Increased Risk of Atherosclerosis and CVD

A recent study published in the European Heart Journal showed that chronic red meat consumption is associated with increased serum and urine concentrations of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a metabolite associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD), when compared to white meat and non-meat sources of protein. Continue reading →

Canakinumab: A New Hope for Post MI Patients with Increased hsCRP in the Prevention of Heart Failure The exploratory analysis of the CANTOS trial showed that canakinumab can decrease hear failure hospitalizations in ischemic patients in a dose-dependent manner

Canakinumab (an IL-B inhibitor) is associated with decreased heart failure (HF) hospitalizations and the composite of heart failure hospitalization and heart-failure related mortality in patients with a history of myocardial infarction (MI) and elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), according to a new study published in Circulation. Continue reading →

Saphenous Vein Graft Harvesting for CABG: Endoscopic Vs Open Technique Results from the REGROUP trial

A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed no significant difference in the risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) between patients undergoing endoscopic and open harvest of the saphenous vein grafts for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Continue reading →

Cardiogenic Shock in Takotsubo Syndrome: Incidence, Predictors, and Outcomes Results from the RETAKO registery

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is not a rare complication in patients with Takotsubo syndrome (TTS). Moreover, it is associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes in the short- and long-term follow-up, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Continue reading →

Persistently High Residual Inflammatory Risk Associated with Increased Mortality and MI Risk in Patients Undergoing PCI Residual inflammatory risk and the impact on clinical outcomes in patients after percutaneous coronary interventions

A recent study published in the European Heart Journal showed that a high percentage of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) had persistently high residual inflammatory risk (RIR). Moreover, high RIR was associated with increased all-cause mortality and myocardial infarction (MI) risk at 1 year of follow-up. Continue reading →

PPIs for GI Bleeding Prophylaxis in Critically Ill ICU Patients: Benefits Vs Risks Results from the SUP-ICU trial

The use of Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) for prophylaxis against gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding due to stress ulceration in critically ill patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) was not associated with improved mortality rate or fewer clinically important events, according to a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Continue reading →

Physical Fitness Associated with Lower Mortality? Association of Cardiorespiratory Fitness With Long-term Mortality Among Adults Undergoing Exercise Treadmill Testing

A recent study published in the Journal of American Medical Association showed that higher level of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) was associated with decreased long-term mortality with no observed upper limit of the CRF level that could induce the benefit. Moreover, extremely high aerobic fitness was associated with the greatest survival and was associated with benefit in older patients and those with hypertension. Continue reading →

SGLT-2 Inhibitors Associated with Lower Heart Failure Hospitalization Tighter glycemic control is not associated with lower risk of HF hospitalization: A Meta-Analysis

A new meta-analysis published in the Journal of American College of Cardiology showed that sodium glucose co-transporter (SGLT)-2 inhibitors are more effective than glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 agonists and dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitors in reducing the risk of Heart Failure (HF) hospitalization in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Continue reading →

Unrecognized Myocardial Infarctions Have a 10-Year Mortality Rate Comparable to Clinically-Recognized Infarctions Results form the ICELAND MI study

According to a new study published in the Journal of American Medical Association, unrecognized myocardial infarction (UMI) detected by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) was associated with equivalent all-cause mortality as compared to recognized myocardial infarction (RMI) at 10 years of follow-up. Individuals with UMI also had a higher risk of nonfatal MI, heart failure, and death than those without any evidence of MI. Continue reading →

Does the Wearable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Benefit MI Patients? Results From the VEST Trial

In patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) and a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) equal or less than 35%, the use of wearable cardioverter defibrillator early after the MI did not lead to significant lowering of death from arrhythmia or from any cause, according to a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Continue reading →

Highlights of TCT 2018

The results of many interesting trials were presented at the TCT conference 2018 held in San Diego, California. Continue reading →

PCI in Nonagenarians: Age Is Just a Number

The outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in nonagenarians is an understudied topic. A recent observational study published in the Journal of American College of Cardiology has looked into the time-dependent PCI trends and outcomes in 70,000 nonagenarians from 2003 to 2014 using data from the National Inpatient Sample, which is the largest longitudinal hospital inpatient database in the United States. Continue reading →

Apple Watch Series 4 Receives FDA Approval as a Class II Medical Device

The Apple watch series 4 received FDA approval as a class II medical device. Apple claims that the device can detect falls and arrhythmias. It can also record an electrocardiogram (ECG) in 30 seconds “anytime and anywhere,” according to Apple. Continue reading →

Early Discharge Following Uncomplicated TAVR Safe, According to a Meta-Analysis

A recent meta-analysis published in the Journal of American College of Cardiology has shown that early discharge (ED) after uncomplicated Transaortic valve replacement (TAVR) is safe and has no negative impact on discharge to 30-day mortality or the need for permanent pacemaker insertion (PPI). Continue reading →

Ahmed Younes, M.D.