Coronary Artery Disease
CLIMA Registry: OCT-Defined Plaque Morphology Links to Major Coronary Events CLIMA Registry: Presence of Multiple High Risk Plaque Features Detected By Optical Coherence Tomography Associated With Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Events
Data from CLIMA registry shows that simultaneous presence of four optical coherence tomography (OCT) plaque vulnerability features are associated with a seven-fold increased risk of future major coronary events. The study, led by Prati et al., is recently published in the European Heart Journal.
Novel Physiology-Based Method of Estimating Myocardial Ischemic Burden
Murai et al. devised a novel physiology-based method of estimating the amount of myocardium subtended by coronary stenosis, which is feasible and can be performed in the catheterization laboratory with a Doppler sensor-equipped guidewire. The study was published in the recent issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions.
Study Shows Preoperative Fractional Flow Reserve Associated with 6-Month Anastomotic Graft Functionality in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft IMPAG trial
A team led by Dr David Glineur working in Canada and Europe on the IMpact of Preoperative fractional flow reserve on Arterial bypass Graft anastomotic function(IMPAG) trial published in European Heart Journal that fractional flow reserve(FFR) measured before surgical revascularization and anastomotic function are significantly related to each other at 6 months with a cut-off value of 0.78. They also found that measuring FFR before Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting(CABG)surgery had improved function of the anastomotic graft.
Fractional Flow Reserve Aids Decision Making for Intermediate Coronary Lesions: 1-Month Data from FORZA Study
Compared with optical coherence tomography (OCT), fractional flow reserve (FFR) was associated with a higher percentage of medical therapy, lower risk of acute kidney injury, shorter hospital stay, and reduced costs at one month among patients with intermediate coronary lesions. The study by Leone et al., recently published in the Journal of American Heart Association, revealed.
IMPROVE-IT Trial: Intensive Lipid-Lowering Cuts CVD Risk in the Elderly
Among patients hospitalized for an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), adding ezetimibe to simvastatin further reduced the risk of cardiovascular events, and the benefit was ten times greater in the elderly than younger individuals. A secondary analysis of the IMPROVE-IT trial, published in JAMA Cardiology, revealed.
TSR1 Gene Associated with Coronary Dissection in A Chinese Cohort
TSR1 gene, encoding a ribosome biogenesis factor required for the maturation of 40S subunit, was identified as a potential cause of spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) in the study by Sun et al., published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Meta-analysis Shows Vitamin D Supplementation Does Not Improve Cardiovascular Outcomes
In the largest updated meta-analysis study conducted to understand the inverse association between low serum vitamin D supplementation and increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks, vitamin D supplementation was not associated with reduced major adverse cardiovascular events, individual CVD end points (myocardial infarction, stroke, CVD mortality) or all-cause mortality. The findings published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Cardiology suggest vitamin D supplementation may not confer cardiovascular protection and may not be indicated for this purpose. Continue reading
PROMISE Trial: High-Sensitivity Troponins May Assist in Detecting Obstructive CAD in Symptomatic Outpatients
Increasing concentrations of hsTnI are significantly associated with the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) among stable outpatients with chest pain, an analysis of PROMISE trial indicates. The study, conducted by Prof. James Januzzi et al., is recently published in the June 1, 2019, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Imaging.
Latest Cross-Sectional Study Links Dietary Pattern Specific Protein Biomarkers to Development of Cardiovascular Disease
According to a nationwide cross-sectional study, protein biomarkers along with specific dietary patterns are linked to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). These findings, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, suggest associations between dietary patterns and protein biomarkers have a role in the pathways related to inflammation, endothelial and immune function, cell adhesion and metabolism. Over the years, the role of diet in the prevention of CVD has been scientifically proven; unhealthy dietary components are important risk factors for the total global burden of this comorbidity. Continue reading
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.
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.
Study Suggests ICU Care May Be Overutilized in Stable STEMI Patients
A study led by Dr. Jay S. Shavadia published in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions showed that although more than 80% of stable patients with an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) were treated in the intensive care unit (ICU), the risk of developing a complication requiring ICU care was around 16%. These findings suggest that implementing a risk-based triage strategy could be a better alternative to the current strategy where patients with STEMI are typically admitted to the ICU.
Study in China Indicates Current Practice of Lipid-Lowering Treatment Needs Improvement
In an article published in the American Heart Journal, Dr. Yueyan Xing emphasized the need to improve on current lipid-lowering treatment practices in patients with a history of myocardial infarction or revascularization. Patients with a previous history of acute coronary syndrome are at a high risk of a recurrent coronary event and death. Lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in these patients is essential in order to reduce the risk of a recurrent event. The authors used the Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China (CCC) Project to assess current lipid-lowering treatment practices in China.
Genetic Epidemiological Study Provides Conflicting Evidence Regarding Protective Effect of Moderate Alcohol Consumption
An article published in the Lancet by Dr. Millwood provided conflicting evidence regarding the apparently protective effect of moderate alcohol consumption and cardiovascular risk. Many conventional epidemiological studies have associated moderate alcohol intake with a reduced risk of stroke and coronary artery disease. To assess whether alcohol truly has a protective effect, the authors conducted both a traditional and genetic epidemiological study in an east Asian population.
AHA Releases a Scientific Statement Regarding Patients with Myocardial Infarction in the Absence of Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease
The American Heart Association (AHA) released a scientific statement that aims to provide a formal and updated definition for Myocardial Infarction in the Absence of Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease (MINOCA). It also outlines a useful framework for the diagnostic approach and management of patients with potential MINOCA.
Anti-Inflammatory Therapy May Not Prevent Atherosclerotic Events Low-Dose Methotrexate for the Prevention of Atherosclerotic Events
A randomized double-blinded trial called Cardiovascular Inflammation Reduction Trial (CIRT) recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine by Ridker, M.D. and his colleges at the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston illustrated that that low-dose methotrexate did not reduce atherosclerotic events or any markers of inflammation such as interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, or C-reactive protein. Continue reading
Coronary CTA Provides an Unrivaled Opportunity for More Detailed Analysis in Selected Patients, According to a Study Stress Testing Versus CT Angiography in Patients With Diabetes and Suspected Coronary Artery Disease
According to a recent publication in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, in diabetic patients presenting with stable chest pain, a computed tomographic angiography (CTA) strategy resulted in fewer adverse cardiovascular outcomes in comparison with a functional testing strategy. The conclusions drawn from the study implied that CTA may be considered as the initial diagnostic modality in this subgroup. Continue reading
Impaired Microvascular Function Predicts Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes in Women with Signs and Symptoms of Ischemia: Understanding the ‘Feminine Face’ of Ischemic Heart Disease Impact of Abnormal Coronary Reactivity on Long-Term Clinical Outcomes in Women
Investigators Ahmed Al Badri and C. Noel Bairey Merz from the Cedars Sinai Smidt Heart Institute, in Los Angeles, California recently reported that on longer-term follow-up in women, impaired microvascular function predicted adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with signs and symptoms of ischemia. In their publication in JACC, they concluded that evaluation of coronary reactivity (CR) abnormality could identify those at higher risk of adverse outcomes in the absence of significant coronary artery disease (CAD). Continue reading
Triglyceride-Lowering LPL Variants and LDL-C–Lowering LDLR Variants Are Associated With Similar Lower Risk of Coronary Heart Disease, Says a New Study
A study by Ference et al. published in JAMA showed that triglyceride-lowering LPL variants and LDL-C–lowering LDLR variants were associated with similar lower risk of CHD per unit difference in ApoB. Therefore, the investigators believe that the clinical benefit of lowering triglyceride and LDL-C levels may be proportional to the absolute change in ApoB. Continue reading
