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This article covers several topics related to cardiovascular health. It discusses the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in improving patient evaluation and clinical care. The use of lipid-lowering therapies in preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE) is explored, with high-intensity statins combined with PCSK9 inhibitors showing the greatest reduction in VTE risk. The article also highlights sex disparities in the treatment of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), with females receiving less intensive treatment. The effects of semaglutide, a drug used in treating obesity-related heart failure, are examined, showing consistent positive effects on heart failure symptoms and physical limitations. Semaglutide also reduces diuretic use and dose over time. The article mentions changes in the definition of post-capillary pulmonary hypertension in heart failure and a study using human myocardial slices to study the effects of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors on the heart at a molecular level. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses three studies related to cardiovascular disease. The first study examines the use of genetic information to improve risk assessment for cardiovascular events. The second study explores the role of the spleen in cardioprotective effects. The third study investigates the mechanisms of sudden cardiac arrest in patients without obstructive coronary artery disease. These studies provide valuable insights into risk assessment, cardioprotective mechanisms, and the pathophysiology of sudden cardiac arrest. Further research is needed in these areas to improve patient care and outcomes. [Extracted from the article]

This article from the European Heart Journal discusses several studies related to cardiovascular health. The first study examines the association between periprocedural myocardial infarction (PMI) and mortality following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The authors find that all definitions of PMI are associated with an increased risk of all-cause death after PCI. The second study evaluates the safety and efficacy of a leaflet modification device called ShortCut in patients at risk for coronary artery obstruction undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The authors conclude that ShortCut is safe and associated with favorable clinical outcomes. The third study compares ticagrelor monotherapy with ticagrelor-based dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. The authors find that ticagrelor monotherapy after short-term DAPT is associated with less major bleeding without an increase in ischemic events. The fourth study examines the relationship between adulthood adiposity and cardiac structure and function in later life. The authors find that higher adiposity over adulthood is associated with adverse cardiac structure and function. The fifth study investigates the effects of a 20-year infancy-onset dietary intervention on retinal microvasculature in young adulthood. The authors find that the dietary intervention has favorable effects on retinal microvasculature. The article also includes commentaries and a discussion forum. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses several hot topics in the field of cardiovascular health. It includes a review of left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) as an alternative treatment for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The article also examines the safety of home treatment for acute pulmonary embolism (PE) patients and the efficacy of pulmonary artery (PA)-guided therapy for chronic heart failure (HF) patients. Additionally, the article presents a novel tool for arrhythmic risk stratification in patients with desmoplakin gene variants and evaluates the risk of thromboembolic events after COVID-19 vaccination in patients with AF. The authors provide insights, data, and recommendations for each topic, highlighting the need for further research and individualized care. [Extracted from the article]

This article from the European Heart Journal covers various topics related to cardiovascular health. It includes a review on the management of coronary artery disease in older adults, highlighting the underutilization of invasive procedures and the importance of addressing overlooked factors. Another review focuses on atrial fibrillation burden and its relationship to outcomes, suggesting that reducing AF burden could be a therapeutic goal. The article also discusses a clinical trial on intravascular ultrasound-guided drug-coated balloon angioplasty for femoropopliteal artery disease, which showed improved outcomes compared to angiography-guided angioplasty. Additionally, the article explores the association between office and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and mortality, emphasizing the importance of ABPM for hypertension diagnosis and risk assessment. Lastly, it presents a study on the long-term risk of cardiovascular disease after perinatal depression, finding that women with PND have a higher risk of CVD in middle adulthood. The article provides valuable insights into these topics and is accompanied by expert commentaries. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Catheter ablation (CA) is a well-established treatment in patients with ventricular tachycardia and appropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapies. Methods: We enrolled 57 consecutive carriers of ICD undergoing CA for electrical storm (ES). Our aim was to investigate differences in clinical, device-related, and electroanatomic features among patients who had history of appropriate ICD interventions before the ES compared to those who had not. The primary endpoint was a composite of death from any cause and recurrences of sustained VT, ventricular fibrillation, appropriate ICD therapy, or ES. Results: During a median follow up of 39 months, 28 patients (49%) met the primary endpoint. Those with previous ICD interventions had a higher prevalence of late potentials and a greater unipolar low-voltage area at electroanatomic mapping. Patients who met the primary endpoint had a higher prevalence of ATP/shock episodes preceding the ES event. At Cox regression analysis, non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDCM), QRS duration, and previous ATP and/or shock before the ES were associated with arrhythmic recurrences and/or death. At multivariate analysis, NIDCM and previous shock were associated with arrhythmic recurrences and/or death. Conclusions: A history of recurrent ICD therapies predicts worse outcomes when CA is needed because of ES. Although more studies are needed to definitively address this question, our data speak in support of an early referral for CA of ES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article from the European Heart Journal covers various topics related to heart failure and ischaemic heart disease. It includes a clinical consensus statement on the management of cardiac sarcoidosis, a review of the genetics of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a comparison of reperfusion therapies for acute myocardial infarction and acute ischaemic stroke, a discussion of therapy options for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, and a study on incident heart failure in chronic kidney disease. The article provides valuable insights and recommendations for clinicians and researchers in these areas. [Extracted from the article]

Aims: Several mechanisms have been identified in the aetiopathogenesis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Among these, coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) may play a key pathophysiological role. We performed a systematic review and meta‐analysis to investigate the prevalence, echocardiographic correlates, and prognostic implications of CMD in patients with HFpEF. Methods and results: A systematic search for articles up to 1 May 2023 was performed. The primary aim was to assess the prevalence of CMD. Secondary aims were to compare key echocardiographic parameters (E/e′ ratio, left atrial volume index [LAVi], and left ventricular mass index [LVMi]), clinical outcomes [death and hospitalization for heart failure (HF)], and prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) between patients with and without CMD. Meta‐regressions according to baseline patient characteristics and study features were performed to explore potential heterogeneity sources. We identified 14 observational studies, enrolling 1138 patients with HFpEF. The overall prevalence of CMD was 58%. Compared with patients without CMD, patients with HFpEF and CMD had larger LAVi [mean difference (MD) 3.85 confidence interval (CI) 1.19–6.5, P < 0.01)], higher E/e′ ratio (MD 2.76 CI 1.54–3.97; P < 0.01), higher prevalence of AF (odds ratio 1.61 CI 1.04–2.48, P = 0.03) and higher risk of death or hospitalization for HF [hazard ratio 3.19, CI 1.04–9.57, P = 0.04]. Conclusions: CMD is present in little more than half of the patients with HFpEF and is associated with echocardiographic evidence of more severe diastolic dysfunction and a higher prevalence of AF, doubling the risk of death or HF hospitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides a summary of several studies on various topics related to cardiovascular care. One study focuses on ventricular septal defects (VSDs) that occur after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), discussing the diagnosis, consequences, and treatment strategies for VSDs. Another study explores the increased risk of heart failure in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), finding that IBD patients have a moderately higher risk of developing heart failure for at least 20 years after diagnosis. The article also discusses the use of a point-of-care high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) assay to assess patients with suspected AMI, finding that this assay can effectively and safely assess the risk of AMI. Additionally, the article summarizes three other studies on infective endocarditis, coronary artery bypass grafting, and myocarditis, providing valuable insights into different aspects of cardiovascular health and treatment. [Extracted from the article]

This article covers various topics related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its prevention. It discusses the role of aspirin in preventing atherothrombosis, the potential role of triglycerides in CVD, the effectiveness of invasive strategies in managing non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS) in patients with previous coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, the outcomes of patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) who do not have standard modifiable cardiovascular risk factors (SMuRFs), and the use of apolipoprotein B (apoB) as a marker for ASCVD risk. The first article finds that apoB provides significant information for predicting new-onset ASCVD events. The second article shows that evinacumab effectively reduces LDL-C levels in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (HoFH). The third article suggests that xylitol may increase the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events. These articles offer valuable insights into biomarkers and treatments for hypercholesterolaemia. [Extracted from the article]