Fahad Alkhalfan, M.D.
Registry Data Demonstrates No Difference in Survival Between Extracorporeal CPR and Conventional CPR in Patients With Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest
A study led by Dr. Wulfran Bougouin published in the European Heart Journal analyzed out of hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) and compared outcomes in patients who received and did not receive extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Dr. Bougouin and his team found that 4% of OHCAs were treated with extracorporeal-CPR and this was not associated with an increased hospital survival rate.
20,000 Patient Randomized Trial Shows Ingestion of Anti-hypertensive Medication at Night Associated with Better Blood Pressure Control and Improved Cardiovascular Outcomes
A randomized trial, led by Dr. Ramon Hermida, revealed that the routine ingestion of at least one prescribed anti-hypertensive medication in patients with hypertension led to improved control of ambulatory blood pressure and reduced cardiovascular risk. This study, published in the European Heart Journal, compared ingesting anti-hypertensive medication during two potential time points: upon waking and at bedtime.
20-Year Study Shows Statin Use Associated with Reduced Cardiovascular Event Rate in Children with Familial Hypercholesterolemia
A study led by Dr. Ilse Luirink published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that initiating statins in children with familial hypercholesterolemia slowed the progression of carotid intima-media thickness and reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood.
11-Year Follow-Up Study Shows Drug Eluting Devices Safe in Patients with Peripheral Vascular Disease
The results of a real-world safety analysis showed that over a follow-up period of up to 11 years, there was no evidence of increased mortality in patients who underwent endovascular revascularization of peripheral vessels with paclitaxel-based drug-eluting devices (DED). In this analysis, led by Dr. Eva Freisinger published in the European Heart Journal, the investigators offer evidence that conflicts with the data that suggests paclitaxel-based DED is associated with increased mortality risk.
17 Year Study Shows Changes in Income Can Influence the Occurrence of Cardiovascular Disease
A study led by Mr. Stephen Wang, published in JAMA Cardiology, showed that an income drop over 6 years was associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease over the next 17 years. Additionally, an increase in income over 6 years was associated with a reduced incidence of cardiovascular disease over the same time period. The findings of this paper suggest that changes in income can have an effect on a person’s health.
New 21,000 PCI Study Shows Same-Day Discharge Associated with Reduced Costs But No Difference in Mortality or Readmission Rates in Patients Undergoing Elective PCI
A study led by Dr. Jennifer Rymer published in the American Heart Journal suggested that same-day discharge after an elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is being increasingly adopted and is associated with reduced costs without an increase in hospital readmission rates or mortality. The data presented in this study would further support the increased adoption of same-day discharge after elective PCI in some patients.
COAPT: Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair Is a Cost Effective Treatment In Patients with Heart Failure and Secondary Mitral Valve Regurgitation
New findings from the COAPT study were just published in Circulation and presented at TCT 2019 by Dr. Suzanne J. Baron. The findings of the study suggest that in patients with symptomatic heart failure and secondary mitral regurgitation, transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVr) increases life expectancy and quality-adjusted life years (QALY) as compared with guideline-directed medical therapy.
PARTNER 3: TAVR Associated with Better Health Status At 12 Months As Compared to SAVR in Patients with Severe Aortic Stenosis and Low Surgical Risk
Findings from the ongoing PARTNER 3 trial were published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and presented at TCT 2019 by Dr. Suzanne J. Baron. The findings of this study further support the use of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) over surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR).
EXCEL Trial: Five-Year Data Suggests PCI Non-Inferior to CABG in Patients with Left Main Coronary Artery Disease
The results of a randomized controlled trial led by Dr. Gregg W. Stone presented at TCT 2019 and published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that in patients with left main coronary artery disease of low or intermediate complexity, there was no significant difference in the composite endpoint of death, stroke, or myocardial infarction at 5 years in patients who received either percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
AUGUSTUS Trial: Dual Therapy with P2Y12 Inhibitor and Apixaban Safer Than Triple Therapy or Dual Therapy with Warfarin in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Acute Coronary Syndrome or Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
The results of a randomized controlled trial led by Dr. Renato Lopes presented at TCT 2019 and published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that in patients with atrial fibrillation and a recent acute coronary syndrome or percutaneous coronary intervention who are treated with a P2Y12 inhibitor, an antithrombotic regimen that consists of apixaban without aspirin led to lower rates of bleeding and fewer hospitalizations without a significant difference in ischemic events as compared to a regimen that consists of two antiplatelet agents or a vitamin K inhibitor or both.
New 1,500 Patient Study Demonstrates Favorable 1-Year Mortality Rate in Mitral Valve-In-Valve Implantation in Patients With Failed Mitral Valve Surgery
The results of a combined analysis of the STS/ACC/TVT Registry and the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services (CMS) were presented by Dr. Mayra Guerrero, an interventional cardiologist and Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic Hospital, at TCT 2019. The analysis suggests that a transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve implantation may be preferable to repeat mitral surgery and should be the standard of care in patients with favorable anatomy.
New Study Shows Levels of Circulating Cardiovascular Biomarkers Are Different in Men and Women
A study led by Dr. Emily Lau published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology showed that there were significant differences in circulating biomarkers in men and women. These differences in biomarker levels may reflect the distinct pathways implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease in men and women.
New Study Shows Elevated Levels of Troponin After Exercise Associated with Increased Rate of Cardiovascular Events
A study led by Dr. Vincent Aengevaeren, published in Circulation, showed that an elevated exercise-induced troponin I was associated with an increased risk of mortality and cardiovascular events in older long-distance workers. This may suggest that exercise-induced troponin elevations could be a marker of a future cardiovascular event and not a physiological response to exercise.
10-Year Study Demonstrates Increased Rate of Cognitive Decline In Patients with Elevated Carotid Artery Pulse Intensity
A study led by Dr. Scott Chiesa published in the European Heart Journal showed that an elevated carotid artery intensity in mid-to-late life was associated with a faster rate of cognitive decline over long-term follow-up. This association was independent of other known cardiovascular risk factors.
Study Suggests Increased Risk of Coronary Artery Disease in Black Women With Complications During Pregnancy
A study led by Dr. Julian Wichmann published in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging showed that black women with a history of pregnancy complications had a higher prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) on coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA). Additionally, having a history of gestational diabetes mellitus was independently associated with any and obstructive CAD and CCTA.
RM-ALONE: Trial Demonstrates A More Efficient and Simpler Follow Up Protocol For Patients with Implantable Cardiac Defibrillators and Pacemakers
A randomized trial led by Dr. Francisco Javier Garcia-Fernandez, published in the European Heart Journal, demonstrated that a simplified protocol of remote monitoring and for monitoring patients with implantable cardiac defibrillators or pacemakers was as safe and efficient as a protocol involving in-patient follow up.
MR-INFORM: Myocardial Perfusion Based Strategy to Determine Need for Revascularization Shown to be Non-Inferior to Invasive Angiography in Reducing the Occurrence of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Stable Angina
A trial led by Dr. Eike Nagel published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that among patients with stable angina and risk factors for coronary artery disease, a myocardial-perfusion cardiovascular MRI based strategy to determine eligibility for revascularization was associated with a lower incidence of coronary revascularization than invasive angiography with fractional flow reserve (FFR) and was non-inferior to FFR in terms of the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular outcomes.
CREOLE: Amlodipine with Either Perindopril or Hydrochlorothiazide Is Better Than Perindopril and Hydrochlorothiazide in Reducing Blood Pressure In Black Patients in Sub-Saharan Africa
A trial led by Dr. Dike Ojji published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that in black patients in sub-Saharan Africa, amlodipine plus either hydrochlorothiazide or perindopril was more effective than perindopril plus hydrochlorothiazide at lowering blood pressure at 6 months.
Study Shows Noninvasive Hemodynamic Assessment Can Potentially Be Used To Identify Lesions At Risk of Progressing to Acute Coronary Syndrome
A study led by Dr. Joo Myung Lee showed that noninvasive hemodynamic assessment can be used to enhance the identification of high-risk plaques that could subsequently cause acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The study published in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging suggests that noninvasive hemodynamic assessment could be integrated into the current standard of practice to potentially improve identification of a culprit lesion in future ACS.
TREAT Trial: No Difference in Recurrent Cardiovascular Events by 1 Year Between Ticagrelor and Clopidogrel in Patients with a STEMI Who Receive Fibrinolysis
A randomized controlled trial led by Dr. Otavio Berwanger published in JACC showed that in patients less than 75 with an ST-elevation myocardial infarction, administering ticagrelor as opposed to clopidogrel does not offer a reduced rate of recurrent cardiovascular events.
