CHIP Associated Genetic CHD Risk

A Chinese cohort study revealed that clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) contributed to incident coronary heart disease (CHD), and could be modified by germline genetic risk, especially in inflammatory genes. The study used data from 3 prospective cohorts in China.  Participants (n=6181, median age 53.8, female 49.9%) without cardiovascular […]

Causal Effects of Lipids on High BP

A Mendelian randomization study provides genetic evidence for the causal effects of lipids on blood pressure (BP) indicators. Based on large-scale genome-wide association study summary data, genetically predicted triglycerides (TG) were the most likely causal factor among the major lipids to increase systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure […]

Genetic Risks in Sodium and Potassium Informative to High BP Interventions

A cross-sectional, observational study of 2 genotyped cohorts in Australia and UK suggested that sodium was associated with larger hypertensive effects for individuals with higher blood pressure (BP) genetic risk in pathways related to sodium and potassium biology. Both genetic risk and urinary electrolytes independently correlated with BP in the […]

Irregular Sleep Linked to Dementia and Brain Volume

A UK cohort study suggested that irregular sleep may represent a novel dementia risk factor. A random selection of 88,094 individuals (mean age 62 years, 56% women, and median sleep regularity index [SRI] 60) from a UK cohort was done between February 2013 and December 2015. The SRI was calculated […]

Efficacy and Safety of Bempedoic Acid

In the prespecified analysis of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, bempedoic acid reduces LDL cholesterol, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and risk of cardiovascular events among those with baseline diabetes, prediabetes, or normoglycemia, with or without cardiovascular disease at baseline. Between Dec 22, 2016, and Nov 7, 2022, 13 970 patients who were […]

Healthy Vegan Bettered Healthy Omnivorous Diet

A US randomized clinical trial of healthy adult identical twin pairs showed that a healthy plant-based diet offers a significant protective cardiometabolic advantage compared with a healthy omnivorous diet. The open-label, parallel, dietary randomized clinical trial enrolled 22 pairs of twins (N = 44, 34 female; mean age, 39.6 years; mean body […]

Early Life BP Linked to Adult Arterial Thickening

A Finnish randomized, infancy-onset cohort study indicated that accumulation of risk exposure to BP levels at all life stages contributed to adulthood carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). The study included 534 participants from July 1989 through January 2018 with annual BP (from age 7 months to 20 years), biennial IMT measurements […]

US 2023 AF Guideline

The US 2023 atrial fibrillation (AF) guideline emphasizes a rhythm control strategy and highlight the need for lifestyle and risk factor modification in addition to medical treatment. Key points including: The new proposed classification of AF by 4 stages, recognizes AF as a disease continuum that requires a variety of […]

Neuroticism Causal to AF

A longitudinal cohort and mendelian randomization study suggested there was a modest, but significant longitudinal and causal relationship between neuroticism and atrial fibrillation (AF). In 394,834 UK participants (mean age 56.3 years, 45.9% male), AF occurred in 23,509 (6.0%) during a 10-year follow-up. Based on the median summary score from […]

Progression and Regression of Subclinical Atherosclerosis

A Spanish longitudinal cohort study suggested that the impact of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) on subclinical atherosclerosis (SA) progression might be more pronounced in younger participants. SA was quantified as global plaque volume (bilateral carotid and femoral plaque burden) in 3,471 asymptomatic participants (baseline age […]