A recent trial by Dr. Jordana B Cohen, published in The LANCET, indicated that consistent with international society recommendations, patients admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 can safely continue treatment with renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB)) unless there is a distinct medical contraindication to ongoing therapy.

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A recent study by Dr. Bernard R. Chaitman, published in Circulation investigated the impact on clinical interpretation of using different definitions for myocardial infarctions in the ISCHEMIA trial.

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A recent meta-analysis of clinical trials with more than 100,000 patients has shown that the carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) progression can be used as a surrogate marker for cardiovascular risk in the clinical trials. The results of this study published in Circulation. According to Dr. Willeit, the assessment of cIMT progression can provide a link for the development and license of new therapies for cardiovascular disease. Continue reading →

A recent study by Dr. O’Donoghue, published in Circulation, shows that early aspirin discontinuation with continued P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy, after the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI),  was associated with a significant reduction in major bleeding compared to dual antiplatelet therapy. This study did not show a significant increase in major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) after aspirin discontinuation in the participants.
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A recent study by Dr. van der Hoeven, published in the Journal of American Heart Association, has shown the superiority of ticagrelor over prasugrel in patients presenting with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). According to the author, ticagrelor has a higher efficacy in platelet inhibition as well as in improving endothelial function when compared with prasugrel. Continue reading →

A recent study by Dr. Knott, published in Circulation, have shown the prognostic value of measuring myocardial blood flow (MBF) using artificial intelligence quantification of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) perfusion mapping in cardiovascular outcomes. According to this study, both MBF and myocardial perfusion reserve (MPR) were associated with death and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) independently of other clinical risk markers. Using this technique, quantitative analysis of myocardial perfusion for clinical use is now available. Continue reading →

A new study by Dr. Hongwei, published in JAMA Cardiology, demonstrated that blood pressure (BP) trajectories over the life course progress more rapidly in women compared to men, a process that begins as early as the third decade of life. This concept is inconsistent with the previously accepted notion that important vascular disease processes in women occur by 10 to 20 years delay compared to men. These sex-based differences in physiology may establish the cornerstone for future cardiovascular disorders that often present differently in women compared with men.

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A single center study that included 187 patients who presented with angina-like chest pain and nonobstructive coronary arteries on diagnostic angiography, has shown that co-existence of high microvascular resistance index (IMR) and vasospasm is associated with an increased incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE – defined as cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and hospitalizations). Rho-kinase activation thought to underlie mechanisms leading to high IMR in this patient population.
The 187 patients included in the study had a median follow-up of 893 days. Continue reading →