Fahad Alkhalfan, M.D.
Simulation Models Suggest Using Combination Drugs Is More Cost Effective Than Current Standard of Care in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease
Using microsimulation models, Dr. Thomas Gaziano showed that the use of a polypill has a favorable cost profile for secondary cardiovascular disease prevention in the United States. The findings of the study published in the American Heart Journal suggest that a polypill would be economically advantageous for both the patients and the payers.
New Study Demonstrates Significant Burden of New Onset Atrial Fibrillation in Patients Undergoing Aortic Valve Replacement
A study led by Dr. Rajat Kalra published in JAMA Internal Medicine showed that new-onset atrial fibrillation is a significant burden on patients after aortic valve replacement either through trans-jugular aortic valve implantation (TAVI) or aortic valve replacement (AVR). Additionally, the investigators demonstrated that atrial fibrillation (AF) was higher after AVR than after TAVI.
New 15,000 Patient Study In Young Adult Demonstrates Increased Mortality For Up To 15 Years After Stroke
A study led by Dr. Merel Sanne Ekker demonstrated that when compared to the general population, patients between the age of 18 and 49 who had a stroke and survived the first 30 days were at a higher risk of mortality up to 15 years in the future.
New Study Suggests That Non-Fasting Lipid Levels May Be Used Instead of Fasting Lipid Levels in Cardiovascular Disease Risk Screening and Treatment
In a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine showed that both fasting and non-fasting lipid levels were associated with incident coronary and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk and yielded similar results. The study led by Dr. Samia Mora suggests that routine measurement of non-fasting lipid levels may help in ASCVD risk screening and treatment.
Genetic Study Shows LPA Associated with Calcific Aortic Valve Stenosis and Increased Aortic Valve Microcalcification in First Degree Relatives
A study led by Nicolas Perrot published in JAMA Cardiology showed that a genetically elevated lipoprotein A (LPA) levels was associated with an increased risk of calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS). The evidence presented in this study supports the use of LPA screening for calcific aortic valve stenosis.
New Study Finds Higher Rates of All-Cause, Cardiovascular and Neurodegenerative Mortality in NFL Players when Compared to MLB Players
A study led by Vy Nguyen published in JAMA Network Open showed that when compared to Major League Baseball (MLB) players, US National Football League (NFL) players had higher all-cause, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative mortality rates.
Meta-Analysis Demonstrates Increased Risk of Intracranial Bleeding With Low Dose Aspirin Use In Patients Without Symptomatic Cardiovascular Disease
A meta-analysis led by Dr. Wen Yi-Huang published in JAMA Neurlogy showed that in patients without symptomatic cardiovascular disease, aspirin use was associated with an increased risk of intracranial hemorrhage. The study suggests that the risks of aspirin use may outweigh its benefit in patients without cardiovascular disease.
LRT Trial: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement In Low Risk Patients with Symptomatic Severe Aortic Stenosis Appears To Be Safe At 1 Year
A study led by Dr. Ronald Waksman showed that in low-risk patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) appears to be safe at 1 year. This study, which was published in JACC Cardiovascular Interventions, provides evidence to support the use of TAVR in low-risk patients.
BIO-RESORT TRIAL: Lower Stent Strut Thickness Associated with Lower Rates of Repeat Revascularization
A prespecified analysis of the BIO-RESORT trial demonstrated that patients stent in small coronary vessels were less likely to need repeat revascularization if ultrathin-strut sirolimus-eluting stents were used as compared to the previous generation thin strut zotarolimus-eluting stent. Dr. Rosaly Buiten, the lead authors of this study published in JAMA cardiology, highlights the need to further evaluate the potential benefit of thin stent struts.
REVELATION: Drug-Coated Balloon Is Non-Inferior to Drug-Eluting Stent in Terms of Functional Outcome by 9 Months In Patients with STEMI
A randomized controlled trial led by Dr. Nicola Vos published in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions showed that a treatment strategy involving the use of a drug-coated balloon (DCB) was non-inferior to drug-eluting stents (DES) for patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who undergo primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The data here suggest that using DCB could be both safe and feasible.
New 22 Year Follow Up Study Shows Bariatric Surgery Associated with Lower Risk of Heart Failure in Obese Patients
In a study published in the European Heart Journal, Dr. Shabbar Jamaly and his team showed that in patients with obesity and no history of heart failure, being treated with bariatric surgery was associated with a reduced risk of heart failure.
Study Suggests That Higher Residual Inflammatory Risk Linked to Increased Rates of Ischemic Events in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
A study led by Dr. Paul Guedeney that was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology showed that among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with an LDL of 70 mg/dl or less, a persistently high residual inflammatory risk is associated with an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. Potentially targeting the increased residual inflammatory risk could improve outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
Study Shows An Increase in the Levels of Hepatocyte Growth Factors Associated with a Higher Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
A study led by Paul Decker showed that changes in the levels of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) were an independent predictor of the incidence of coronary heart disease. The findings of this research letter published in the American Heart Journal could help understand the role of HGF in coronary heart disease.
New Study Involving 95,000 Stents Shows Outcomes of Bioabsorbable Polymer Drug-Eluting Stents Not Better than Permanent Drug-Eluting Stents in Reducing Stent Thrombosis and Restenosis
In a study published in the European Heart Journal, Dr. Sergio Buccheri showed that patients with bioabsorbable polymer drug-eluting stents (BP-DES) did not have a better outcome when compared to patients who receive permanent polymers (PP-DES) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
COMPASS: Treatment Benefit of Combined Low Dose Rivaroxaban and Aspirin Preserved in Patients with Moderate Renal Impairment
A secondary analysis of the COMPASS trial showed that the benefit of combining rivaroxaban 2.5mg twice daily and aspirin is preserved in patients with moderate renal dysfunction. Dr. Keith A.A. Fox demonstrated in the study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology that these patients did not have an excess risk of bleeding.
COAPT Trial: Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair Leads to Early and Sustained Health Improvements in Patients with Secondary Mitral Regurgitation
A study led by Dr. Suzanne Arnold published in the Journal of American College of Cardiology showed that in patients with heart failure secondary to mitral regurgitation, transcatheter mitral valve repair resulted in early and sustained health status improvement compared with medical therapy alone.
PARTNER 3 Trial: Lower Risk of Death, Stroke and Rehospitalization in Patients with Severe Aortic Stenosis and Low Surgical Risk Treated with TAVR
A randomized controlled trial led by Dr. M.J. Mack, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that in patients with severe aortic stenosis and a low surgical risk, treatment with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with a balloon expandable valve was associated with a lower risk of stroke, death or rehospitalization by 1 year when compared to surgery.
Cohort Study Shows That a New HDL Apolipoproteomic Score Correlates with Both Risk of Coronary Artery Disease and Risk of Cardiovascular Death
In a study led by Dr. Pradeep Natarajan showed that an HDL apolipoproteomic score is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). Additionally, the study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology showed that among individuals with CAD, this score is independently associated with cardiovascular death.
Study Shows Inconsistency in Identifying the Infarct Related Artery by Angiography When Compared to Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging
A new study led by Dr. John Heitner, published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions, suggests that Delayed-enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance (DE-CMR) can be helpful in identifying the infarct-related artery (IRA) in patients with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). This could help interventional cardiologists decide on the coronary vessel that would need treatments.
VANISH Trial: 3 Year Follow Up Data Shows No Difference in Myocardial Blood Perfusion With Bioresorbable Stents Compared to Drug-Eluting Stents After Sympathetic Stimulation
A clinical trial led by Dr. Wijnand J. Stuijfzand published in JACC Cardiovascular Interventions showed that when compared to drug-eluting stents, bioresorbable everolimus-eluting stents (BVS) did not lead to improved myocardial blood flow after sympathetic stimulation.
