A pooled US cohorts study suggests that maintaining an optimal level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) throughout young adulthood and middle age can minimize the lifetime risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). The study included data of 18 288 participants (mean age 56.4, 56.4% women) collected from 1971 to 2017 from […]
A prospective observational study indicated that a healthy sleep pattern was associated with lower risks of atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF) and bradyarrhythmia, independent of traditional risk factors, and the association of the healthy sleep pattern with the risk of AF was stronger among those with a lower genetic risk of AF. […]
A Chinese multicenter, randomized, controlled trial concluded that intensive treatment with a systolic blood-pressure (SBP) target of 110 to less than 130 mm Hg resulted in a lower incidence of cardiovascular events than standard treatment with a target of 130 to less than 150 mm Hg. Of the 8511 hypertensive […]
A double-blind, randomized trial revealed that empagliflozin reduced the combined risk of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure (HF) in patients with HF and a preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), regardless of the presence or absence of diabetes. The trial included 5988 patients (average 72 years, about 45% women, and […]
A community-based cohort study in Germany suggested that the composition of the gut microbiome might explain the cross-sectional association of habitual flavonoid and flavonoid-rich food intake with blood pressure (BP). The study included 904 participants, and 16S ribosomal RNA was sequenced for the gut microbiome composition. Higher total flavonoid intakes […]
A US randomized clinical trial showed that for patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and high anxiety, escitalopram was safe and effective for reducing anxiety. The trial included 128 outpatients (mean age 64.6 years, 29% women) with stable CHD and a diagnosed anxiety disorder between January 2016 and May 2020. […]
A cohort study suggested an association of statin use with slower plaque progression and increasing calcium density. The study included 2458 coronary lesions in 857 patients (mean age 62.1 years, 63.0% men, 63.9% received statin therapy) from 2013 to 2016 at 13 sites in 7 countries and had serial quantitative […]
Two separate studies in the US suggested that plant-based foods were associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in young adults andpostmenopausal women. One study included 4,946 adults, 18 to 30-years-old at the time of enrollment from 1985 to 1986; 2,509 Black and 2,437 white adults, 54.9% women overall. […]
A retrospective, new-user comparative cohort study revealed that angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) do not differ statistically significantly in effectiveness at the class level compared with ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors as first-line treatment for high blood pressure but present a better safety profile. The study included all patients with high blood […]
A scientific statement from the American Heart Association has been released for the diagnosis and management of myocarditis in children. Myocarditis remains a clinical challenge in pediatrics. Originally, it was recognized at autopsy before the application of endomyocardial biopsy, which led to a histopathology-based diagnosis. Given the invasive and low-sensitivity […]