Left Bundle-Branch Area Pacing vs Right Ventricular Pacing in Atrioventricular Block

A randomized trial found that left bundle-branch area pacing (LBBAP) significantly reduced the risk of major clinical events, particularly heart failure (HF) events, compared with right ventricular pacing (RVP) in patients with atrioventricular block, preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF ≥50%), and an anticipated high ventricular pacing burden. The trial […]

Familial Hypercholesterolaemia Linked to Accelerated Thymic Ageing

Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is associated with reduced thymic output and accelerated thymic ageing, while statin treatment may help preserve immune cell production. In a Chinese study of 562 patients with heterozygous FH and 295 age-matched healthy controls, researchers found that untreated FH patients had a significantly lower proportion of recent […]

Percutaneous Shunt Closure Improves Oxygenation in Platypnea-Orthodeoxia Syndrome

Percutaneous closure of an interatrial shunt significantly improves oxygenation and symptoms in patients with platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome (POS), with a low procedural complication rate. A systematic review of 196 studies involving 469 patients (mean age 68.3 years; 51% female) characterized the clinical features, anatomical contributors, and outcomes of percutaneous closure of […]

A Female Life Stage Framework for Cardiovascular Health Across the Lifespan

A new multisociety scientific statement introduces the Female Life Stage framework to improve cardiovascular disease prevention and management in girls and women by integrating hormonal, psychosocial, and cardiovascular health across the lifespan. These interconnected domains often experience concurrent dysregulation, which is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, yet care remains fragmented […]

Low Protein Intake Linked to Higher Risks of Kidney Failure and Death in CKD

A prospective cohort study of 1,861 patients with nondialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (CKD) in South Korea found that very low protein intake was associated with higher risks of kidney failure requiring replacement therapy (KFRT) and all-cause mortality, without a significant association with major adverse cardiovascular events. Over a median follow-up […]

SGLT2 Inhibitors Modestly Increase Hemoglobin and Hematocrit

A meta-analysis of 85 randomized clinical trials involving 70,543 participants found that sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors were associated with small but statistically significant increases in hemoglobin and hematocrit levels compared with control treatments, although the clinical significance of these changes remains unclear. The trials had a median follow-up of […]

Endovascular Therapy for Mild and Late-Presenting Acute Ischemic Stroke: Benefits and Safety

Two randomized trials conducted in China found that endovascular therapy improved functional outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by anterior-circulation large-vessel occlusion and imaging evidence of salvageable brain tissue, both within 24 hours and 24–72 hours after symptom onset, although the benefits were accompanied by important safety concerns. […]

Circadian Depression Subtype Linked to More Severe Symptoms and Poorer Antidepressant Response

A circadian subtype of depression is associated with earlier disease onset, more severe clinical features, poorer response to commonly prescribed antidepressants, and a distinct genetic risk profile. In a nationwide Australian Genetics of Depression Study, 2,604 participants (23%) met criteria for this subtype, defined by at least three circadian-associated features, […]

Frequent and Unintentional Daytime Napping Linked to Higher Dementia Risk

A longitudinal study of 995 U.S. older adults found that frequent and unintentional daytime napping was associated with an increased risk of developing dementia over 10 years. Using data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study, researchers followed participants from 2013 to 2023 and found that frequent nappers had […]

A Common CD36 Variant of Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Individuals of African Ancestry

A multicohort genetic association study found that the ancestry-enriched CD36 Y325* variant accounted for a greater population-level burden of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) among individuals of predominantly African ancestry than truncating variants in TTN, the most common established monogenic cause of DCM. Across four US cohorts involving 82,623 individuals of predominantly […]