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Background Prepregnancy diabetes and obesity are associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDPs). However, the proportion of cases of HDP in the population explained by diabetes and obesity (population attributable fraction), especially among American Indian and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, is not well characterized. Methods and Results We conducted a cross‐sectional analysis of data on individuals with a live singleton birth from the US National Vital Statistics System between 2016 and 2019. We used adjusted logistic regression to estimate the prevalence odds ratios of HDPs and tested interaction for race and ethnicity. We calculated the population attributable fraction for the effect of obesity and diabetes on HDPs. Among 13 201 338 birthing individuals, (mean age, 29±6 years), 7% had HDP. The prevalence of HDP was highest among American Indian and Alaska Native individuals (9.1%). Prepregnancy diabetes (prevalence odds ratio, 2.63 [95% CI, 2.59–2.67]) and obesity (prevalence odds ratio, 2.95 [95% CI, 2.93–2.97]) were associated with HDPs. Compared with non‐Hispanic White individuals, the association of diabetes with HDPs was strongest among Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (prevalence odds ratio, 3.05 [95% CI, 2.48–3.77]), and the association of obesity with HDP was strongest among Asian individuals (prevalence odds ratio, 3.44 [95% CI, 3.35–3.54]; all P for interaction

Objective: Elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is an independent, genetically determined risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). We evaluated the frequency of testing for elevated Lp(a) and subsequent management at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, a large academic medical center, over a 5-year period. Methods: The Johns Hopkins Hospital (JHH) electronic medical record was queried to identify patients with an encounter between 2017 and 2021, either with established ASCVD or at increased risk, defined as being on any lipid lowering medication or having LDL-C ≥ 190 mg/dL. The frequency of Lp(a) testing and of elevated levels were identified for each year. Results: Among 111,350 unique adult patients, 2,785 (2.5 %) had at least one Lp(a) test. Patients with Lp(a) testing, compared to those without testing, were younger (mean age 56 years vs. 66 years), more often female (49 % vs. 44 %), Black (24.7 % vs. 24.6 %) or “other” race/ethnicity (12 % vs 10 %), and had higher LDL-C levels (median 118 vs. 91 mg/dL; p < 0.001). The number and frequency of Lp(a) testing increased from 167 (0.57 %) in 2017 to 1155 (5.67 %) in 2021. Lp(a) levels were abnormal in 43.4 % of patients (moderate [75–125 nmol/L]: 10.3 %, high [126–600 nmol/L]: 32.2 %, severe [>600 nmol/L]: 0.9 %). Among 920 patients with high or severe Lp(a) levels, 200 (22 %) had a subsequent referral to cardiology or lipid specialist, and 180 (20 %) had a new lipid-lowering medication prescribed in the subsequent 18 months. Conclusion: Based on a single-center experience, the frequency of incident Lp(a) testing among increased-risk patients was low but increased significantly over 5-years, likely due to Lipid Clinic referrals with reflex Lp(a) testing and greater awareness about this risk factor. Future work should target appropriate population based Lp(a) testing strategies and clinical decision-making regarding risk management once Lp(a) elevation is diagnosed.

Climate change is a public health crisis predominantly due to fossil fuel combustion, that challenges planetary and human health. Considerable evidence exists to demonstrate the impact climate change has on cardiovascular disease primarily through air pollution, and non-optimal temperature. Conversely, healthcare systems themselves contribute substantially to climate change. Many clinicians personally report a sense of responsibility to reduce the detrimental impact of parts of our healthcare system on the environment. Roadmaps exist to guide decarbonization and reduce pollution in the healthcare sector. The first step in minimizing the climate impact of the provision of cardiovascular care is to determine the carbon footprint of highly resource dependent sectors such as critical care cardiology as well as the cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology laboratories. This should be followed by sustainable changes to address healthcare waste and energy use. Engagement from healthcare leadership, governmental organizations and major cardiac societies will be necessary to impact meaningful change.

The American Heart Association (AHA) has devised Life's Essential 8, a set of eight evidence-based health behaviors that play a crucial role in optimizing cardiovascular health and overall well-being. In addition to Life's Essential 8, enhanced screening for Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) Syndrome risk factors into routine athlete screening also provides a more comprehensive approach for ensuring athlete safety and long-term health. Incorporating Life's Essential 8 and CKM Syndrome metrics into athlete health evaluations will improve the sports performance of athletes and help optimize their long-term health.

Following the publication of results from multiple landmark cardiovascular outcome trials of antihyperglycemic medications over the past 8 years, there has been a major shift in the focus of care for people with type 2 diabetes, from control of hyperglycemia to managing cardiovascular risk. Multiple international cardiology and diabetes society guidelines and recommendations now endorse sodium‐glucose cotransporter‐2 inhibitors and glucagon‐like protein‐1 receptor agonists as first‐line therapies to mitigate cardiovascular risk. The most recent publication is the 2023 European Society of Cardiology guideline on the management of cardiovascular disease in those with type 2 diabetes that, for the first time, recommends use of both classes of medications for the mitigation of cardiovascular risk for those with or at high risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease. Here, we review the evidence behind contemporary society guidelines and recommendations for the management of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk.

Objective: Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is an atherogenic and prothrombotic lipoprotein associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). We assessed the association between regular aspirin use and ASCVD mortality among individuals with versus without elevated Lp(a) in a nationally representative US cohort. Methods: Eligible participants were aged 40–70 years without clinical ASCVD, reported on aspirin use, and had Lp(a) measurements from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III, 1988–1994), the only cycle of this nationally representative US cohort to measure Lp(a). Regular aspirin use was defined as taking aspirin ≥30 times in the previous month. Using NHANES III linked mortality records and weighted Cox proportional hazards regression, the association between regular aspirin use and ASCVD mortality was observed in those with and without elevated Lp(a) (≥50 versus

Objective: Many studies support the notion that polygenic risk scores (PRS) improve risk prediction for coronary heart disease (CHD) beyond conventional risk factors. However, PRS are not yet considered risk-enhancing factor in guidelines. Our objective was to determine the predictive performance of a commercially available PRS (CARDIO inCode-Score®) compared with the Pooled Cohorts Equations (PCE) in a contemporary, multi-ethnic cohort. Methods: Participants (n = 63,070; 67 % female; 18 % non-European) without prior CHD were followed from 2007 through 12/31/2022. The association between the PRS and incident CHD was assessed using Cox regression adjusting for genetic ancestry and risk factors. Event rates were estimated by categories of PCE and by low/intermediate/high genetic risk within PCE categories; risk discrimination and net reclassification improvement (NRI) were also assessed. Results: There were 3,289 incident CHD events during 14 years of follow-up. Adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) for incident CHD per 1 SD increase in PRS was 1.18 (95 % CI:1.14–1.22), and the aHR for the upper vs lower quintile of the PRS was 1.66 (95 % CI:1.49–1.86). The association was consistent in both sexes, in European participants compared with all minority groups combined and was strongest in the first 5 years of follow-up. The increase in the C-statistic was 0.004 (0.747 vs. 0.751; p < 0.0001); the NRI was 2.4 (0.9–3.8) for the entire cohort and 9.7 (7.5–12.0) for intermediate PCE risk individuals. After incorporating high genetic risk, a further 10 percent of participants at borderline/intermediate PCE risk would be candidates for statin therapy. Conclusion: Inclusion of polygenic risk improved identification of primary prevention individuals who may benefit from more intensive risk factor modification.

Background It is unclear how metabolic syndrome (MetS) and diabetes affect Gal‐3 (galectin 3) levels and the resulting implications for heart failure (HF) risk. We assessed relationships of MetS and diabetes with Gal‐3, and their joint associations with incident HF. Methods and Results We included 8445 participants without HF (mean age, 63 years; 59% men; 16% Black race) at ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) study visit 4 (1996–1999). We categorized participants as having MetS only, MetS with diabetes, or neither, and by quartiles of MetS severity Z score. We assessed cross‐sectional associations of metabolic risk categories with high Gal‐3 level (≥75th percentile) using logistic regression. We used Cox regression to evaluate combined associations of metabolic risk categories and Gal‐3 quartiles with HF. In cross‐sectional analyses, compared with no MetS and no diabetes, MetS only (odds ratio [OR], 1.24 [95% CI, 1.10–1.41]) and MetS with diabetes (OR, 1.59 [95% CI, 1.32–1.92]) were associated with elevated Gal‐3. Over a median follow‐up of 20.5 years, there were 1749 HF events. Compared with individuals with neither diabetes nor MetS and with Gal‐3 in the lowest quartile, the combination of MetS with diabetes and Gal‐3 ≥75th percentile was associated with a 4‐fold higher HF risk (hazard ratio, 4.35 [95% CI, 3.30–5.73]). Gal‐3 provided HF prognostic information above and beyond MetS, NT‐proBNP (N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide), high‐sensitivity cardiac troponin T, and CRP (C‐reactive protein) (ΔC statistic for models with versus without Gal‐3: 0.003; P=0.004). Conclusions MetS and diabetes are associated with elevated Gal‐3. The HF risk significantly increased with the combination of greater metabolic risk and higher Gal‐3.

Abstract Emerging research indicates that high HDL-C levels might not be cardioprotective, potentially worsening cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes. Yet, there is no data on HDL-C's association with other CVD risk factors like myocardial fibrosis, a key aspect of cardiac remodeling predicting negative outcomes. We therefore aimed to study the association between HDL-C levels with interstitial myocardial fibrosis (IMF) and myocardial scar measured by CMR T1-mapping and late-gadolinium enhancement (LGE), respectively. There were 1863 participants (mean age of 69 years) who had both serum HDL-C measurements and underwent CMR. Analysis was done among those with available indices of interstitial fibrosis (extracellular volume fraction [ECV]; N = 1172 and native-T1; N = 1863) and replacement fibrosis by LGE (N = 1172). HDL-C was analyzed as both logarithmically-transformed and categorized into

The prevalence of heart failure (HF) in the United States (U.S.) is estimated at over 6 million adults, with the incidence continuing to increase. A large proportion of the U.S. population is also at risk of HF due to the high prevalence of established HF risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. Many individuals have multiple risk factors, placing them at even higher risk. In addition, these risk factors disproportionately impact various racial and ethnic groups. Recognizing the rising health and economic burden of HF in the U.S., the 2022 American Heart Association / American College of Cardiology / Heart Failure Society of America (AHA/ACC/HFSA) Heart Failure Guideline placed a strong emphasis on prevention of HF. The purpose of this review is to highlight the role of both primary and secondary prevention in HF, as outlined by the recent guideline, and address the role of the preventive cardiology community in reducing the prevalence of HF in at-risk individuals.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Racial/ethnic differences in GDM prevalence have been described, but disparities by nativity and duration of US residence are not well studied. Methods: We analyzed data from 6088 women (mean age: 27.5 years [standard deviation: 6.3 years]) from the Boston Birth Cohort who self-identified as non-Hispanic Black (NHB; n = 2697), Hispanic (n = 2395), or non-Hispanic White (NHW; n = 996). Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined the cross-sectional association of nativity and duration of US residence (< 10 vs ≥ 10 years) with GDM within each race/ethnicity group. Results: Foreign-born NHB, NHW, and Hispanic women with a duration of US residence of < 10 years had a lower prevalence of CVD risk factors than those with US residence of ≥ 10 years, respectively, as follows: smoking (NHB: 1.7% vs 3.1%; NHW: 5.7% vs 8.1%; Hispanic: 0.4% vs 2.6%); obesity (NHB: 17.1% vs 23.4%; NHW: 3.8% vs 15.6%; Hispanic: 10.9% vs 22.7%); and severe stress (NHB: 8.7% vs 11.9%; NHW: 5.7% vs 28.1%; Hispanic: 3.8% vs 7.3%). In analyses adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and CVD risk factors, foreign-born NHB women with a duration of US residence of < 10 years had higher odds of having GDM (adjusted odds ratio: 1.60, 95% confidence interval: 0.99-2.60), compared with their US-born counterparts, whereas foreign-born Hispanic women with a duration of US residence of < 10 years had lower odds of having GDM (adjusted odds ratio: 0.54, 95% confidence interval: 0.32-0.91). The odds of having GDM in Hispanic and NHB women with a duration of US residence of ≥ 10 years were not significantly different from those of their US-born counterparts. Conclusions: The “healthy immigrant effect” and its waning with longer duration of US residence apply to the prevalence of GDM among Hispanic women but not NHB women. Further research on the intersectionality of race and nativity-based disparities is needed. Résumé: Introduction: Le diabète sucré gestationnel (DSG) est associé à l’augmentation du risque de maladies cardiovasculaires (MCV). Les différences raciales/ethniques dans la prévalence du DSG ont été décrites, mais les disparités selon le lieu de naissance et la durée de résidence aux É.-U font l’objet de peu d’études. Méthodes: Nous avons analysé les données de 6 088 femmes (âge moyen : 27,5 ans [écart type : 6,3 ans]) de la Boston Birth Cohort qui ont déclaré être noires non hispaniques (NNH; n = 2 697), hispaniques (n = 2 395) ou blanches non hispaniques (BNH; n = 996). À l’aide de la régression logistique multivariée, nous avons examiné l’association transversale entre le lieu de naissance et la durée de résidence aux É.-U. (< 10 vs ≥ 10 ans), et le DSG dans chaque groupe racial/ethnique Résultats: Les femmes NNH, BNH et hispaniques nées à l’étranger qui avaient une durée de résidence aux É.-U. de < 10 ans avaient une prévalence plus faible des facteurs de risque de MCV que celles qui avaient une résidence aux É.-U. de ≥ 10 ans, et ce, de façon respective comme suit : le tabagisme (NNH : 1,7 % vs 3,1 %; BNH : 5,7 % vs 8,1 %; hispaniques : 0,4 % vs 2,6 %); l’obésité (NNH : 17,1 % vs 23,4 %; BNH : 3,8 % vs 15,6 %; hispaniques : 10,9 % vs 22,7 %); le stress important (NNH : 8,7 % vs 11,9 %; BNH : 5,7 % vs 28,1 %; hispaniques : 3,8 % vs 7,3 %). Lors de l’ajustement des caractéristiques sociodémographiques et des facteurs de risque de MCV, les femmes NNH nées à l’étranger qui avaient une durée de résidence aux É.-U. de < 10 ans montraient une plus grande probabilité d’avoir le DSG (rapport de cotes ajusté : 1,60, intervalle de confiance à 95 % : 0,99-2,60) que leurs homologues nées aux É.-U., alors que les femmes hispaniques nées à l’étranger qui avaient une durée de résidence aux É.-U. de < 10 ans montraient une plus faible probabilité d’avoir le DSG (rapport de cotes ajusté : 0,54, intervalle de confiance à 95 % : 0,32-0,91). La probabilité que les femmes hispaniques et NNH qui avaient une durée de résidence aux É.-U. de ≥ 10 ans aient le DSG n’était pas significativement différente de celles de leurs homologues nées aux É.-U. Conclusions: L’« effet de l’immigrant en bonne santé » et son déclin associé à la plus longue durée de résidence aux É.-U. s’appliquent à la prévalence du DSG chez les femmes hispaniques, mais non chez les femmes NNH. D’autres recherches sur l’intersectionnalité entre la race et les disparités selon le lieu de naissance sont nécessaires.

Background: Preterm birth (PTB) is associated with future cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and disproportionally affects non-Hispanic Black (NHB) women. Limited data exist on the influence of length of US residence on nativity-related disparities in PTB. We examined PTB by maternal nativity (US born vs foreign born) and length of US residence among NHB women. Methods: We analyzed data from 2699 NHB women (1607 US born; 1092 foreign born) in the Boston Birth Cohort, originally designed as a case-control study. Using multivariable logistic regression, we investigated the association of PTB with maternal nativity and length of US residence. Results: In the total sample, 29.1% of women delivered preterm (31.4% and 25.6% among US born and foreign born, respectively). Compared with foreign born, US-born women were younger (25.8 vs 29.5 years), had higher prevalence of obesity (27.6% vs 19.6%), smoking (20.5% vs 4.9%), alcohol use (13.2% vs 7.4%), and moderate to severe stress (73.5% vs 59.4%) (all P < 0.001). Compared with US-born women, foreign-born women had lower odds of PTB after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, alcohol use, stress, parity, smoking, body mass index, chronic hypertension, and diabetes (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.65-0.97). Foreign-born NHB women with < 10 years of US residence had 43% lower odds of PTB compared with US-born (aOR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.43-0.75), whereas those with ≥ 10 years of US residence did not differ significantly from US-born women in their odds of PTB (aOR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.54-1.07). Conclusions: The prevalence of CVD risk factors and proportion of women delivering preterm were lower in foreign-born than US-born NHB women. The “foreign-born advantage” was not observed with ≥ 10 years of US residence. Our study highlights the need to intensify public health efforts in exploring and addressing nativity-related disparities in PTB. Résumé: Introduction: L’accouchement avant terme (AAT) est associé à un risque futur de maladie cardiovasculaire (MCV) et touche disproportionnellement les femmes noires non hispaniques (NNH). Les données sur l’influence de la durée de résidence aux É.-U. sur les disparités de l’AAT liées au lieu de naissance sont limitées. Nous avons examiné l’AAT en fonction du lieu de naissance de la mère (née aux É.-U. vs née à l’étranger) et la durée de résidence aux É.-U. chez les femmes NNH. Méthodes: Nous avons analysé les données de 2 699 femmes NNH (1 607 nées aux É.-U.; 1 092 nées à l’étranger) de la Boston Birth Cohort, conçue à l’origine comme une étude cas-témoins. À l’aide de la régression logistique multivariée, nous avons examiné l’association de l’AAT au lieu de naissance de la mère et à la durée de résidence aux É.-U. Résultats: Dans l’échantillon total, 29,1 % des femmes qui avaient accouché avant terme (soit 31,4 % des femmes nées aux É.-U. et 25,6 % des femmes nées à l’étranger). Comparativement aux femmes nées à l’étranger, les femmes nées aux É.-U. étaient plus jeunes (25,8 vs 29,5 ans), montraient une prévalence plus élevée d’obésité (27,6 % vs 19,6 %), du tabagisme (20,5 % vs 4,9 %), de la consommation d’alcool (13,2 % vs 7,4 %) et de stress modéré à important (73,5 % vs 59,4 %) (toutes les valeurs P < 0,001). Comparativement aux femmes nées aux É.-U., les femmes nées à l’étranger avaient un risque inférieur d’AAT après l’ajustement des caractéristiques sociodémographiques, de la consommation d’alcool, du stress, de la parité, du tabagisme, de l’indice de masse corporelle, de l’hypertension chronique et du diabète (ratio d’incidence approché ajusté [RIAa], 0,79; intervalle de confiance [IC] à 95 %, 0,65-0,97). Les femmes NNH nées à l’étranger de < 10 ans de résidence aux É.-U. avaient une probabilité 43 % plus faible d’AAT que les femmes nées aux É.-U. (RIAa, 0,57; IC à 95 %, 0,43-0,75), tandis que les femmes de ≥ 10 ans de résidence aux É.-U. ne montraient pas de différence significative dans leur probabilité d’AAT par rapport aux femmes nées aux É.-U. (RIAa, 0,76; IC à 95 %, 0,54-1,07). Conclusions: La prévalence des facteurs de risque de MCV et la proportion de femmes qui accouchent avant terme étaient plus faibles chez les femmes NNH nées à l’étranger que chez les femmes NNH nées aux É.-U. L’« avantage d’être nées à l’étranger » n’était pas observé lors de ≥ 10 ans de résidence aux É.-U. Notre étude illustre la nécessité d’intensifier les efforts de santé publique pour explorer et remédier aux disparités liées au lieu de naissance dans l’AAT.

Background Depression is a nontraditional risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Data on the association of depression and poor mental health with CVD and suboptimal cardiovascular health (CVH) among young adults are limited. Methods and Results We used data from 593 616 young adults (aged 18–49 years) from the 2017 to 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a nationally representative survey of noninstitutionalized US adults. Exposures were self‐reported depression and poor mental health days (PMHDs; categorized as 0, 1–13, and 14–30 days of poor mental health in the past 30 days). Outcomes were self‐reported CVD (composite of myocardial infarction, angina, or stroke) and suboptimal CVH (≥2 cardiovascular risk factors: hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, overweight/obesity, smoking, diabetes, physical inactivity, and inadequate fruit and vegetable intake). Using logistic regression, we investigated the association of depression and PMHDs with CVD and suboptimal CVH, adjusting for sociodemographic factors (and cardiovascular risk factors for the CVD outcome). Of the 593 616 participants (mean age, 34.7±9.0 years), the weighted prevalence of depression was 19.6% (95% CI, 19.4–19.8), and the weighted prevalence of CVD was 2.5% (95% CI, 2.4–2.6). People with depression had higher odds of CVD than those without depression (odds ratio [OR], 2.32 [95% CI, 2.13–2.51]). There was a graded association of PMHDs with CVD. Compared with individuals with 0 PMHDs, the odds of CVD in those with 1 to 13 PMHDs and 14 to 30 PHMDs were 1.48 (95% CI, 1.34–1.62) and 2.29 (95% CI, 2.08–2.51), respectively, after adjusting for sociodemographic and cardiovascular risk factors. The associations did not differ significantly by sex or urban/rural status. Individuals with depression had higher odds of suboptimal CVH (OR, 1.79 [95% CI, 1.65–1.95]) compared with those without depression, with a similar graded relationship between PMHDs and suboptimal CVH. Conclusions Depression and poor mental health are associated with premature CVD and suboptimal CVH among young adults. Although this association is likely bidirectional, prioritizing mental health may help reduce CVD risk and improve CVH in young adults.

Pollution is a leading cause of premature morbidity and mortality and an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Convincing data predict increased rates of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality with current and projected pollution burden trends. Multiple classes of pollutants – including criteria air pollutants, secondhand smoke, toxic steel pollutants, and manufactured chemical pollutants – are associated with varied cardiovascular disease risk profiles. To reduce the future risk of cardiovascular disease from anthropogenic pollution, mitigation strategies, both at the individual level and population level, must be thoughtfully and intentionally employed. The literature supporting individual level interventions to protect against cardiovascular disease is growing but lacks large clinical trials. Population level interventions are crucial to larger societal change and rely upon policy and governmental support. While these mitigation strategies can play a major role in maintaining the health of individuals, planetary health – the impact on human health because of anthropogenic perturbation of natural ecosystems – must also be acknowledged. Future research is needed to further delineate the planetary health implications of current and projected pollutant burden as well as the mitigation strategies employed to attenuate future pollutant burden.

Climate change is a worsening global crisis that will continue negatively impacting population health and well-being unless adaptation and mitigation interventions are rapidly implemented. Climate change-related cardiovascular disease is mediated by air pollution, increased ambient temperatures, vector-borne disease and mental health disorders. Climate change-related cardiovascular disease can be modulated by climate change adaptation; however, this process could result in significant health inequity because persons and populations of lower socioeconomic status have fewer adaptation options. Clear scientific evidence for climate change and its impact on human health have not yet resulted in the national and international impetus and policies necessary to slow climate change. As respected members of society who regularly communicate scientific evidence to patients, clinicians are well-positioned to advocate on the importance of addressing climate change. This narrative review summarizes the links between climate change and cardiovascular health, proposes actionable items clinicians and other healthcare providers can execute both in their personal life and as an advocate of climate policies, and encourages communication of the health impacts of climate change when counseling patients. Our aim is to inspire the reader to invest more time in communicating the most crucial public health issue of the 21st century to their patients.

Machine learning (ML) refers to computational algorithms that iteratively improve their ability to recognize patterns in data. The digitization of our healthcare infrastructure is generating an abundance of data from electronic health records, imaging, wearables, and sensors that can be analyzed by ML algorithms to generate personalized risk assessments and promote guideline-directed medical management. ML's strength in generating insights from complex medical data to guide clinical decisions must be balanced with the potential to adversely affect patient privacy, safety, health equity, and clinical interpretability. This review provides a primer on key advances in ML for cardiovascular disease prevention and how they may impact clinical practice.

BackgroundCardiac arrhythmias are associated with increased maternal morbidity. There are limited data on trends of arrhythmias among women hospitalized for delivery.Materials and methodsWe used the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database to identify delivery hospitalizations for individuals aged 18–49 years between 2009 to 2019 and utilized coding data from the 9th and 10th editions of the International Classification of Diseases to identify supraventricular tachycardias (SVT), atrial fibrillation (AF), atrial flutter, ventricular tachycardia (VT), and ventricular fibrillation (VF). Arrhythmia trends were analyzed by age, race-ethnicity, hospital setting, and hospital geographic regions. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the association of demographic, clinical, and socioeconomic characteristics with arrhythmias.ResultsAmong 41,576,442 delivery hospitalizations, the most common arrhythmia was SVT (53%), followed by AF (31%) and VT (13%). The prevalence of arrhythmia among delivery hospitalizations increased between 2009 and 2019. Age > 35 years and Black race were associated with a higher arrhythmia burden. Factors associated with an increased risk of arrhythmias included valvular disease (OR: 12.77; 95% C1:1.98–13.61), heart failure (OR:7.13; 95% CI: 6.49–7.83), prior myocardial infarction (OR: 5.41, 95% CI: 4.01–7.30), peripheral vascular disease (OR: 3.19, 95% CI: 2.51–4.06), hypertension (OR: 2.18; 95% CI: 2.07–2.28), and obesity (OR 1.69; 95% CI: 1.63–1.76). Delivery hospitalizations complicated by arrhythmias compared with those with no arrhythmias had a higher proportion of all-cause in-hospital mortality (0.95% vs. 0.01%), cardiogenic shock (0.48% vs. 0.00%), preeclampsia (6.96% vs. 3.58%), and preterm labor (2.95% vs. 2.41%) (all p < 0.0001).ConclusionPregnant individuals with age > 35 years, obesity, hypertension, valvular heart disease, or severe pulmonary disease are more likely to have an arrhythmia history or an arrhythmia during a delivery hospitalization. Delivery hospitalizations with a history of arrhythmia are more likely to be complicated by all-cause in-hospital mortality, cardiovascular, and adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs). These data highlight the increased risk associated with pregnancies among individuals with arrhythmias.

Commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers have an increased risk for cardiometabolic risk factors and higher rates of cardiovascular disease relative to the general population. Lifestyle factors, including the sedentary nature of driving and lack of access to healthy foods, contribute to the disproportionately high cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among commercial vehicle (CMV) drivers. Occupational physicals represent an important opportunity to reach populations with a high prevalence and incidence of coronary artery disease who may not otherwise seek preventive care. These visits are an opportunity to discuss primary and secondary prevention, including lifestyle topics such as diet and exercise, and potentially recommend or implement preventive medical therapy when indicated. Future iterations of licensing guidelines for drivers should seek to incorporate updated recommendations regarding diet, physical activity, and preventive pharmacologic therapies.

A core principle of the 2021 AHA/ACC/ASE/CHEST/SAEM/SCCT/SCMR Chest Pain Guideline is the importance of preventive therapies among patients with nonobstructive or obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). Accordingly, this editorial provides unique insights that emphasize the role of preventive cardiology throughout the new guideline. For the first time, CAD was defined to also include nonobstructive plaque. This definition was based on the fact that individuals who have nonobstructive plaque are at an increased risk of atherosclerotic events compared with those who do not. Herein, we highlight guideline recommendations related to the diagnosis and management of nonobstructive CAD. We also highlight recommendations which emphasize the importance of preventive therapies. Adoption of these recommendations have the potential to lead to enhanced preventive therapies and improve patient outcomes.

Background and Aims: We aimed to determine the utility of coronary artery calcium (CAC) for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk stratification in women with and without early menopause (EM). Methods: To examine the association between CAC and incident ASCVD, we performed Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariable Cox proportional hazards modeling using data from 2,456 postmenopausal women in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) with or without EM, defined as occurring at 50% of middle-aged postmenopausal women with EM had CAC = 0, similar to those without EM. Among women with CAC = 0, those with EM had a low to borderline 10-year risk of ASCVD, but the 15-year risk was significantly higher for women with EM versus those without EM. When CAC ≥ 1, the incidence of ASCVD was similar for women with and without EM. These findings support the use of CAC to help improve ASCVD risk stratification in women with EM. Condensed abstract: This study investigated the association between coronary artery calcium (CAC) and incident atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in postmenopausal women with and without early menopause (EM). We found that >50% of women had CAC = 0 and an associated low-to-borderline 10-year cumulative incidence of ASCVD. However, the risk for ASCVD was significantly higher for women with EM after 15-years follow-up. Additional research is needed to better understand the differences in long-term ASCVD risk between women with and without EM who have CAC = 0.

Background: Alternatives to the Friedewald low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) equation have been proposed. Objective: To compare the accuracy of available LDL-C equations with ultracentrifugation measurement. Methods: We used the second harvest of the Very Large Database of Lipids (VLDbL), which is a population-representative convenience sample of adult and pediatric patients (N = 5,051,467) with clinical lipid measurements obtained via the vertical auto profile (VAP) ultracentrifugation method between October 1, 2015 and June 30, 2019. We performed a systematic literature review to identify available LDL-C equations and compared their accuracy according to guideline-based classification. We also compared the equations by their median error versus ultracentrifugation. We evaluated LDL-C equations overall and stratified by age, sex, fasting status, and triglyceride levels, as well as in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, inflammation, and thyroid dysfunction. Results: Analyzing 23 identified LDL-C equations in 5,051,467 patients (mean±SD age, 56±16 years; 53.3% women), the Martin/Hopkins equation most accurately classified LDL-C to the correct category (89.6%), followed by the Sampson (86.3%), Chen (84.4%), Puavilai (84.1%), Delong (83.3%), and Friedewald (83.2%) equations. The other 17 equations were less accurate than Friedewald, with accuracy as low as 35.1%. The median error of equations ranged from –10.8 to 18.7 mg/dL, and was best optimized using the Martin/Hopkins equation (0.3, IQR–1.6 to 2.4 mg/dL). The Martin/Hopkins equation had the highest accuracy after stratifying by age, sex, fasting status, triglyceride levels, and clinical subgroups. In addition, one in five patients who had Friedewald LDL-C 70 mg/dL by the Martin/Hopkins equation. Conclusions: Most proposed alternatives to the Friedewald equation worsen LDL-C accuracy, and their use could introduce unintended disparities in clinical care. The Martin/Hopkins equation demonstrated the highest LDL-C accuracy overall and across subgroups.

Increasing evidence suggests that the “NACHT-LRR and PYD domain-containing protein 3” (NLRP3) inflammasome plays an important role in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Recent preclinical evidence has suggested that the NLRP3 inflammasome may play a prominent role in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF). As such, the therapies that have shown efficacy in reducing ASCVD events may also prove beneficial in AF. In this article, we review the findings that implicate the NLRP3 inflammasome in the pathogenesis of AF, discuss existing evidence behind the use of anti-inflammatory agents for AF, and discuss the future role that colchicine and other anti-inflammatory agents may play in the prevention and treatment of AF.

Despite numerous advances in all areas of cardiovascular care, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States (US). There is compelling evidence that interventions to improve diet are effective in cardiovascular disease prevention. This clinical practice statement emphasizes the importance of evidence-based dietary patterns in the prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), and ASCVD risk factors, including hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. A diet consisting predominantly of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, plant protein and fatty fish is optimal for the prevention of ASCVD. Consuming more of these foods, while reducing consumption of foods with saturated fat, dietary cholesterol, salt, refined grain, and ultra-processed food intake are the common components of a healthful dietary pattern. Dietary recommendations for special populations including pediatrics, older persons, and nutrition and social determinants of health for ASCVD prevention are discussed.

Background Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is a potent causal risk factor for cardiovascular events and mortality. However, its relationship with subclinical atherosclerosis, as defined by arterial calcification, remains unclear. This study uses the ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study) to evaluate the relationship between Lp(a) in middle age and measures of vascular and valvular calcification in older age. Methods and Results Lp(a) was measured at ARIC visit 4 (1996–1998), and coronary artery calcium (CAC), together with extracoronary calcification (including aortic valve calcium, aortic valve ring calcium, mitral valve calcification, and thoracic aortic calcification), was measured at visit 7 (2018–2019). Lp(a) was defined as elevated if >50 mg/dL and CAC/extracoronary calcification were defined as elevated if >100. Logistic and linear regression models were used to evaluate the association between Lp(a) and CAC/extracoronary calcification, with further stratification by race. The mean age of participants at visit 4 was 59.2 (SD 4.3) years, with 62.2% women. In multivariable adjusted analyses, elevated Lp(a) was associated with higher odds of elevated aortic valve calcium (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.82; 95% CI, 1.34–2.47), CAC (aOR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.08–1.81), aortic valve ring calcium (aOR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.07–1.73), mitral valve calcification (aOR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.06–1.78), and thoracic aortic calcification (aOR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.05–1.77). Similar results were obtained when Lp(a) and CAC/extracoronary calcification were examined on continuous logarithmic scales. There was no significant difference in the association between Lp(a) and each measure of calcification by race or sex. Conclusions Elevated Lp(a) at middle age is significantly associated with vascular and valvular calcification in older age, represented by elevated CAC, aortic valve calcium, aortic valve ring calcium, mitral valve calcification, thoracic aortic calcification. Our findings encourage assessing Lp(a) levels in individuals with increased cardiovascular disease risk, with subsequent comprehensive vascular and valvular assessment where elevated.

Objective: To evaluate interest in coronary artery calcium (CAC) among the general public during the past 17 years and to compare trends with real-world data on number of CAC procedures performed. Methods: We used Google Trends, a publicly available database, to access search query data in a systematic and quantitative fashion to search for CAC-related key terms. Search terms included calcium test, heart score, calcium score, coronary calcium, and calcium test score. We accessed Google Trends in January 2021 and analyzed data from 2004 to 2020. Results: From 2004 to December 31, 2020, CAC-related search interest (in relative search volume) increased continually worldwide (+201.9%) and in the United States (+354.8%). Three main events strongly influenced search interest in CAC: reports of a CAC scan of the president of the United States led to a transient 10-fold increase in early January 2018. American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guideline release led to a sustained increase, and lockdown after the global pandemic due to COVID-19 led to a transient decrease. Real-world data on performed CAC scans showed an increase between 2006 and 2017 (+200.0%); during the same time period, relative search volume for CAC-related search terms increased in a similar pattern (+70.6%-1511.1%). For the search term coronary calcium scan near me, a potential representative of active online search for CAC scanning, we found a +28.8% increase in 2020 compared with 2017. Conclusion: Google Trends, a valuable tool for assessing public interest in health-related topics, suggests increased overall interest in CAC during the last 17 years that mirrors real-world usage data. Increased interest is seemingly linked to reports of CAC testing in world leaders and endorsement in major guidelines.

Background Sodium‐glucose cotransporter‐2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) and glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists (GLP‐1RAs) mitigate cardiovascular risk in individuals with type 2 diabetes, but most eligible patients do not receive them. We characterized temporal trends in SGLT2i and GLP‐1RA use by cardiologists compared with other groups of clinicians. Methods and Results We conducted a descriptive analysis of serial, cross‐sectional data derived from IQVIA’s National Prescription Audit, a comprehensive audit capturing ≈90% of US retail prescription dispensing and projected to population‐level data, to estimate monthly SGLT2is and GLP‐1RAs dispensed from January 2015 to December 2020, stratified by prescriber specialty and molecule. We also used the American Medical Association’s Physician Masterfile to calculate average annual SGLT2is and GLP‐1RAs dispensed per physician. Between January 2015 and December 2020, a total of 63.2 million SGLT2i and 63.4 million GLP‐1RA prescriptions were dispensed in the United States. Monthly prescriptions from cardiologists increased 12‐fold for SGLT2is (from 2228 to 25 815) and 4‐fold for GLP‐1RAs (from 1927 to 6981). Nonetheless, cardiologists represented only 1.5% of SGLT2i prescriptions and 0.4% of GLP‐1RA prescriptions in 2020, while total use was predominated by primary care physicians/internists (57% of 2020 SGLT2is and 52% of GLP‐1RAs). Endocrinologists led in terms of prescriptions dispensed per physician in 2020 (272 SGLT2is and 405 GLP‐1RAs). Cardiologists, but not noncardiologists, increasingly used SGLT2is over GLP‐1RAs, with accelerated uptake of empagliflozin and dapagliflozin coinciding with their landmark cardiovascular outcomes trials and subsequent US Food and Drug Administration label expansions. Conclusions While use of SGLT2is and GLP‐1RAs by cardiologists in the United States increased substantially over a 6‐year period, cardiologists still account for a very small proportion of all use, contributing to marked undertreatment of individuals with type 2 diabetes at high cardiovascular risk.

Background Laboratory data suggest obesity is linked to myocardial inflammation and fibrosis, but clinical data are limited. We aimed to examine the association of obesity with galectin‐3, a biomarker of cardiac inflammation and fibrosis, and the related implications for heart failure (HF) risk. Methods and Results We evaluated 8687 participants (mean age 63 years; 21% Black) at ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) Visit 4 (1996–1998) who were free of heart disease. We used adjusted logistic regression to estimate the association of body mass index (BMI) categories with elevated galectin‐3 (≥75th sex‐specific percentile) overall and across demographic subgroups, with tests for interaction. We used Cox proportional hazards models to assess the combined associations of galectin‐3 and BMI with incident HF (through December 31, 2019). Higher BMI was associated with higher odds of elevated galectin‐3 (odds ratio [OR], 2.32; 95% CI, 1.88–2.86) for severe obesity ([BMI ≥35 kg/m2] versus normal weight [BMI 18.5‐4‐fold higher risk of HF (HR, 4.19; 95% CI, 2.98–5.88) than those with normal weight and galectin‐3

Background Aspirin is widely administered to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, appropriate use of aspirin depends on patient understanding of its risks, benefits, and indications, especially where aspirin is available over the counter (OTC). Methods and Results We did a survey of patient‐reported 10‐year cardiovascular risk; aspirin therapy status; form of aspirin access (OTC versus prescription); and knowledge of the risks, benefits, and role of aspirin in CVD prevention. Consecutive adults aged ≥50 years with ≥1 cardiovascular risk factor attending outpatient clinics in America and Europe were recruited. We also systematically reviewed national policies regulating access to low‐dose aspirin for CVD prevention. At each site, 150 responses were obtained (300 total). Mean±SD age was 65±10 years, 40% were women, and 41% were secondary prevention patients. More than half of the participants at both sites did not know (1) their own level of 10‐year CVD risk, (2) the expected magnitude of reduction in CVD risk with aspirin, or (3) aspirin’s bleeding risks. Only 62% of all participants reported that aspirin was routinely indicated for secondary prevention, whereas 47% believed it was routinely indicated for primary prevention (P=0.048). In America, 83.5% participants obtained aspirin OTC compared with 2.5% in Europe (P

Abstract Background Heart failure (HF) represents an accumulated burden of systemic vascular damage and is the fastest growing form of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Due to increasing HF-attributable mortality rates, we sought to assess the association of the new 2019 Pooled Cohort equations to Prevent Heart Failure (PCP-HF) risk score with CVD and all-cause mortality. Methods We linked data for 6333 black and white men and women aged 40–79 years, whom underwent electrocardiographic examination from the Third National Health and Nutrition Exam Survey, to National Death Index record matches. Sex- and race-specific PCP-HF risk scores were calculated using data on age, smoking, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, QRS complex duration, and antihypertensive and/or glucose-lowering medications. Cox regression estimated hazard ratios for the association of the PCP-HF risk score with CVD and all-cause mortality. Results Individuals were on average 54.9 years old (51.7% women, 25.4% black) and the median 10-year HF risk was 1.6% (Q1 = 0.5, Q3 = 4.8). There were 3178 deaths, 1116 from CVD, over a median follow-up time of 22.3 years. Black women had a higher 10-year HF risk compared to white women (2.1% vs. 1.1%; p

Background Suboptimal cardiovascular health (CVH) and social determinants of health (SDOH) have a significant impact on maternal morbidity and mortality. We aimed to evaluate the association of SDOH with suboptimal CVH among pregnant women in the United States. Methods and Results We examined cross‐sectional data of pregnant women aged 18 to 49 years from the National Health Interview Survey (2013–2017). We ascertained optimal and suboptimal CVH based on the presence of 0 to 1 and ≥2 risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, current smoking, obesity, and insufficient physical activity), respectively. We calculated an aggregate SDOH score representing 38 variables from 6 domains (economic stability; neighborhood, physical environment, and social cohesion; community and social context; food; education; and healthcare system) and divided into quartiles. We used Poisson regression model to evaluate the association of SDOH with suboptimal CVH and risk factors. Our study included 1433 pregnant women (28.8±5.5 years, 13% non‐Hispanic Black). Overall, 38.4% (95% CI, 33.9–43.0) had suboptimal CVH versus 51.7% (95% CI, 47.0–56.3) among those in the fourth SDOH quartile. Risk ratios of suboptimal CVH, smoking, obesity, and insufficient physical activity were 2.05 (95% CI, 1.46–2.88), 8.37 (95% CI, 3.00–23.43), 1.54 (95% CI, 1.17–2.03), and 1.19 (95% CI, 1.01–1.42), respectively among those in the fourth SDOH quartile compared with the first quartile. Conclusions Over 50% of pregnant women with the highest SDOH burden had suboptimal CVH, highlighting the public health urgency for interventions in socially disadvantaged pregnant women with renewed strategies toward improving modifiable risk factors, especially smoking and insufficient physical activity.

Abstract Myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is a heterogeneous clinical entity, encompassing multiple different causes, and a cause of substantial morbidity and mortality. Current guidelines suggest a multimodality imaging approach in establishing the underlying cause for MINOCA, which is considered a working diagnosis. Recent studies have suggested that an initial workup consisting of cardiac magnetic resonance and invasive coronary imaging can yield the diagnosis in most patients. Cardiac magnetic resonance is particularly helpful in excluding nonischemic causes that can mimic MINOCA including myocarditis and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, as well as for long‐term prognostication. Additionally, intracoronary imaging with intravascular ultrasound or optical coherence tomography may be warranted to evaluate plaque composition, or evaluate for plaque disruption or spontaneous coronary dissection. The role of noninvasive imaging modalities such as coronary computed tomography angiography is currently being investigated in the diagnostic approach and follow‐up of MINOCA and may be appropriate in lieu of invasive coronary angiography in select patients. In recent years, many strides have been made in the workup of MINOCA; however, significant knowledge gaps remain in the field, particularly in terms of treatment strategies. In this review, we summarize recent society guideline recommendations and consensus statements on the initial evaluation of MINOCA, review contemporary multimodality imaging approaches, and discuss treatment strategies including an ongoing clinical trial.

Objective: Associations between income disparity and utilization of cardiovascular disease (CVD) preventive care services, such as receipt of lifestyle advice and screening for CVD risk factors in populations with and without CVD, are not well understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate associations between income and utilization of CVD-preventive services among U.S. adults. Methods: We included adults ≥18 years with and without CVD from the 2006 to 2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. We categorized participants as high-income (>400% of federal poverty level [FPL]), middle income (200–400% of FPL), low-income (125–200% of FPL) and very low (VL)-income (

Background: many of the modifiable variables in the Pooled Cohort Equations (PCE) are shared risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer, which are the two leading causes of death in the United States. We sought to determine the utility of the PCE risk for the synergistic risk prediction of CVD and cancer. Methods: we identified 5,773 participants (61.5 years and 53% women) without baseline CVD or cancer from the Multi-Ethnic study of atherosclerosis. The primary outcome was time to first event of either incident CVD or incident cancer. We calculated competing risk and cause-specific hazard models to examine the association of the PCE groups (

Chronic inflammation promotes the development and progression of atherosclerosis. Despite aggressive risk reduction, patients with coronary artery disease have a significant residual risk of myocardial infarction and cardiovascular death related in part to ongoing inflammation within coronary vasculature. In this review, we summarize the clinical trials that provide evidence for the inflammatory hypothesis of atherogenesis. Additionally, we describe studies suggesting colchicine may be able to reduce residual inflammatory risk via the NLRP3 pathway. Given its tolerable side effect profile, safety, and low cost, colchicine holds promise as an anti-inflammatory agent in primary and secondary prevention of coronary disease.

Background: The effects of omega-3 fatty acids (FAs), such as eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids, on cardiovascular outcomes are uncertain. We aimed to determine the effectiveness of omega-3 FAs on fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular outcomes and examine the potential variability in EPA vs. EPA+DHA treatment effects. Methods: We searched EMBASE, PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Cochrane library databases through June 7, 2021. We performed a meta-analysis of 38 randomized controlled trials of omega-3 FAs, stratified by EPA monotherapy and EPA+DHA therapy. We estimated random-effects rate ratios (RRs) with (95% confidence intervals) and rated the certainty of evidence using GRADE. The key outcomes of interest were cardiovascular mortality, non-fatal cardiovascular outcomes, bleeding, and atrial fibrillation (AF). The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021227580). Findings: In 149,051 participants, omega-3 FA was associated with reducing cardiovascular mortality (RR, 0.93 [0.88-0.98]; p = 0.01), non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI) (RR, 0.87 [0.81–0.93]; p = 0.0001), coronary heart disease events (CHD) (RR, 0.91 [0.87–0.96]; p = 0.0002), major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (RR, 0.95 [0.92–0.98]; p = 0.002), and revascularization (RR, 0.91 [0.87–0.95]; p = 0.0001). The meta-analysis showed higher RR reductions with EPA monotherapy (0.82 [0.68–0.99]) than with EPA + DHA (0.94 [0.89–0.99]) for cardiovascular mortality, non-fatal MI (EPA: 0.72 [0.62–0.84]; EPA+DHA: 0.92 [0.85–1.00]), CHD events (EPA: 0.73 [0.62–0.85]; EPA+DHA: 0.94 [0.89–0.99]), as well for MACE and revascularization. Omega-3 FA increased incident AF (RR, 1.26 [1.08–1.48]). EPA monotherapy vs. control was associated with a higher risk of total bleeding (RR: 1.49 [1.20–1.84]) and AF (RR, 1.35 [1.10–1.66]). Interpretation: Omega-3 FAs reduced cardiovascular mortality and improved cardiovascular outcomes. The cardiovascular risk reduction was more prominent with EPA monotherapy than with EPA+DHA. Funding: None.

In recent years, improvement in outcomes related to cardiovascular disease is in part due to the prioritization and progress of primary and secondary prevention efforts. The Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease expanded ‘ABC's approach is used to highlight key findings in Preventive Cardiology from 2020 and further emphasize the importance of cardiovascular prevention. This simplified approach helps clinicians focus on the most relevant and up to date recommendations for optimizing cardiovascular disease risk through accurate risk assessment and appropriate implementation of lifestyle, behavioral and pharmacologic interventions. While 2020 not only provided practice changing updates by way of clinical guidelines and randomized controlled trials on topics related to antithrombotic and lipid lowering therapy, diabetes management and risk assessment, it also provided promising data on how to improve dietary and exercise adherence and manage genetic risk. By providing clinicians with a systematic approach to cardiovascular prevention and key highlights from the prior year, the goal of significantly reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease worldwide can be achieved.

Background Randomized trials of pharmacologic strength omega‐3 fatty acid (n3‐FA)–based therapies suggest a dose‐dependent cardiovascular benefit. Whether blood n3‐FA levels also mediate safety signals observed in these trials, such as increased bleeding and atrial fibrillation (AF), remains uncertain. We hypothesized that higher baseline n3‐FA levels would be associated with incident bleeding and AF events in MESA (Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis), which included a population free of clinical cardiovascular disease at baseline. Methods and Results We examined the association between baseline plasma n3‐FA levels (expressed as percent mass of total fatty acid) with incident bleeding and AF in MESA, an ongoing prospective cohort study. Bleeding events were identified from review of hospitalization International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD‐9), and International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD‐10), codes, and AF from participant report, discharge diagnoses, Medicare claims data, and study ECGs performed at MESA visit 5. Separate multivariable Cox proportional hazard modeling was used to estimate hazard ratios of the association of continuous n3‐FA (log eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA], log docosahexaenoic acid [DHA], log [EPA+DHA]) and incident hospitalized bleeding events and AF. Among 6546 participants, the mean age was 62.1 years and 53% were women. For incident bleeding, consistent statistically significant associations with lower rates were seen with increasing levels of EPA and EPA+DHA in unadjusted and adjusted models including medications that modulate bleeding risk (aspirin, NSAIDS, corticosteroids, and proton pump inhibitors). For incident AF, a significant association with lower rates was seen with increasing levels of DHA, but not for EPA or EPA+DHA. Conclusions In MESA, higher plasma levels of n3‐FA (EPA and EPA+DHA, but not DHA) were associated with significantly fewer hospitalized bleeding events, and higher DHA levels (but not EPA or EPA+DHA) with fewer incident AF events.

Despite continued advances in health care, the cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality rate has plateaued in recent years and appears to be trending upward. Poor diet is a leading cause of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus, which are leading contributors to CVD morbidity and mortality. Although dietary modification is a cornerstone of CVD prevention, implementation in clinical practice is limited by inadequate formal training in nutrition science. In this report, we review the individual components of a heart-healthy diet, evidence-based dietary recommendations, and the impact of diet on CVD risk factor prevention and management. Furthermore, we examine the unique difficulties of dietary counseling in low-socioeconomic-status environments and provide an evidence-based approach to better serve these populations. We utilized PubMed searches in adults with no date restriction with the following search terms: “carbohydrate,” “fat,” protein,” “DASH,” “Mediterranean,” “plant-based,” “vegetarian,” “cardiovascular disease,” “obesity,” “weight loss,” “diabetes,” “socioeconomic status,” and “race.” In this review, we demonstrate that patients should focus on implementing a general diet plan that is high in fruits, whole grains, legumes, and nonstarchy vegetables while low in trans-fats, saturated fats, sodium, red meat, refined carbohydrates, and sugar-sweetened beverages. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, Mediterranean, and vegetarian diets have the most evidence for CVD prevention. Clinicians should understand the barriers that patients may face in terms of access to healthy dietary choices. Further research is needed to determine the dietary changes that are most economically, socioculturally, and logistically feasible to reduce these barriers. Improvement in diet is a public health priority that can lead to a significant population-level reduction in CVD morbidity and mortality. It is imperative that clinicians understand current dietary practice guidelines and implement evidence-based dietary counseling in those at high risk for CVD.

Adult working-class Americans spend on average 50% of their workday awake time at their jobs. The vast majority of these jobs involve mostly physically inactive tasks and frequent exposure to unhealthy food options. Traditionally, the workplace has been a challenging environment for cardiovascular prevention, where cardiovascular guidelines have had limited implementation. Despite the impact that unhealthy lifestyles at the workplace may have on the cardiovascular health of U.S. workers, there is currently no policy in place aimed at improving this. In this review, we discuss recent evidence on the prevalence of physical inactivity among Americans, with a special focus on the time spent at the workplace; and the invaluable opportunity that workplace-based lifestyle interventions may represent for improving the prevention of cardiovascular disease. We describe the current regulatory context, the key stakeholders involved, and present specific, guideline-inspired initiatives to be considered by both Congress and employers to improve the “cardiovascular safety” of US jobs. Additionally, we discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has forever altered the workplace, and what lessons can be taken from this experience and applied to cardiovascular disease prevention in the new American workplace. For many Americans, long sitting hours at their job represent a risk to their cardiovascular health. We discuss how a paradigm shift in how we approach cardiovascular health, from focusing on leisure time to also focusing on work time, may help curtail the epidemic of cardiovascular disease in this country.

Objective: To assess the prevalence, temporal trends and sex- and racial/ethnic differences in the burden of mental health disorders (MHD) and outcomes among patients with myocardial infarction (MI) in the United States. Methods: Using the National Inpatient Sample Database, we evaluated a contemporary cohort of patients hospitalized for acute MI in the United States over 10 years period from 2008 to 2017. We used multivariable logistic regression analysis for in-hospital outcomes, yearly trends and estimated annual percent change (APC) in odds of MHD among MI patients. Results: We included a total sample of 6,117,804 hospitalizations for MI (ST elevation MI in 30.4%), with a mean age of 67.2 ​± ​0.04 years and 39% females. Major depression (6.2%) and anxiety disorders (6.0%) were the most common MHD, followed by bipolar disorder (0.9%), schizophrenia/psychotic disorders (0.8%) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (0.3%). Between 2008 and 2017, the prevalences significantly increased for major depression (4.7%–7.4%, APC +6.2%, p ​

In 2018, the AHA/ACC Multisociety Guideline on the Management of Blood Cholesterol was released. Less than one year later, the 2019 ESC/EAS Dyslipidemia Guideline was published. While both provide important recommendations for managing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk through lipid management, differences exist. Prior to the publication of both guidelines, important randomized clinical trial data emerged on non-statin lipid lowering therapy and ASCVD risk reduction. To illustrate important differences in guideline recommendations, we use this data to help answer three key questions: 1) Are ASCVD event rates similar in high-risk primary and stable secondary prevention? 2) Does imaging evidence of subclinical atherosclerosis justify aggressive use of statin and non-statin therapy (if needed) to reduce LDL-C levels below 55 ​mg/dL as recommended in the European Guideline? 3) Do LDL-C levels below 70 ​mg/dL achieve a large absolute risk reduction in secondary ASCVD prevention? The US guideline prioritizes both the added efficacy and cost implications of non-statin therapy, which limits intensive therapy to individuals with the highest risk of ASCVD. The European approach broadens the eligibility criteria by incorporating goals of therapy in both primary and secondary prevention. The current cost and access constraints of healthcare worldwide, especially amidst a COVID-19 pandemic, makes the European recommendations more challenging to implement. By restricting non-statin therapy to a subgroup of high- and, in particular, very high-risk individuals, the US guideline provides primary and secondary ASCVD prevention recommendations that are more affordable and attainable. Ultimately, finding a common ground for both guidelines rests on our ability to design trials that assess cost-effectiveness in addition to efficacy and safety.