MDedge Cardiocast

DAPA-HF results transform dapagliflozin from antidiabetic to heart failure drug

Proof that dapagliflozin significantly helped heart failure patients without diabetes recategorizes the drug as a major agent for treating heart failure.

New hypertension cases halved with community-wide salt substitution

Social marketing principles achieved near-universal salt replacement, village by village, in rural Peru.

Ticagrelor: Modest benefit, bigger bleed risk in diabetes plus stable CAD

Patients with prior PCI fared a bit better and may be a target population for long-term DAPT therapy.

In PAD, dropping statins ups death risk 43%

Statin adherence saves lives in peripheral arterial disease.

DAPA-HF results transform dapagliflozin from antidiabetic to heart failure drug

Proof that dapagliflozin significantly helped heart failure patients without diabetes recategorizes the drug as a major agent for treating heart failure.

New hypertension cases halved with community-wide salt substitution

Social marketing principles achieved near-universal salt replacement, village by village, in rural Peru.

Ticagrelor: Modest benefit, bigger bleed risk in diabetes plus stable CAD

Patients with prior PCI fared a bit better and may be a target population for long-term DAPT therapy.

In PAD, dropping statins ups death risk 43%

Statin adherence saves lives in peripheral arterial disease.

This week in cardiology:

1. PCSK9 inhibition cuts events in very-high-risk groups
   ODYSSEY OUTCOMES analyses peg prior CABG and polyvascular disease as targets for alirocumab.
2. Cardiovascular cost of smoking may last up to 25 years
   Past smokers face an elevated cardiovascular risk for up to 25 years after they quit.
3. Impact of climate change on mortality underlined by global study
   This may be the largest study ever to assess the effects of inhalable particulate matter around the world.
4. HCV coinfection adds to the cardiovascular risk in HIV-infected patients
   Hepatitis C virus and other injections were independently linked to the risk of having a cardiovascular event in HIV-infected patients.

You can contact the MDedge Cardiocast by emailing us at [email protected] or following us on Twitter at @MDedgeTweets. 

1. TAVR valves now FDA approved for low-risk patients
   The FDA's decision will expand TAVR access to younger, healthier patients.
2. FDA approves baroreflex activation for advanced HF
   A phase 4 trial will investigate impact on hospitalizations and mortality.
3. Top line results: Dapagliflozin meets primary endpiont in DAPA-HF
   AstraZeneca announces preliminary results in first heart failure trial in an SGLT2 inhibitor.
4. Cardiovascular cost of smoking may last up to 25 years
   Past smokers face an elevated cardiovascular risk for up to 25 years.

You can contact the MDedge Cardiocast by emailing us at [email protected] or following us on Twitter at @MDedgeTweets.

You can contact the MDedge Cardiocast by emailing us at [email protected] or following us on Twitter at @MDedgeTweets

The top stories in cardiology:

1. Artificial intelligence technology meets AFib detection
   An AI-enabled ECG model suggests clinical implications for early identification of atrial fibrillation.
2. Older patients who stop statins may be increasing their cardiovascular risk
   Discontinuation of statins was associated with an increased risk of hospital admission for a cardiovascular event.
3. Psoriasis patients on biologics show improved heart health
   Novel imaging biomarker identifies reduced coronary inflammation in psoriasis patients on biologics.
4. Acupuncture cuts attacks in chronic angina
   Chronic stable angina patients showed significant improvement with acupuncture over patients given shame or no acupuncture.

You can contact the MDedge Cardiocast by emailing us at [email protected] or following us on Twitter @MDedgeTweets

The top stories in cardiology:

1. Artificial intelligence technology meets AFib detection
   An AI-enabled ECG model suggests clinical implications for early identification of atrial fibrillation.
2. Older patients who stop statins may be increasing their cardiovascular risk
   Discontinuation of statins was associated with an increased risk of hospital admission for a cardiovascular event.
3. Psoriasis patients on biologics show improved heart health
   Novel imaging biomarker identifies reduced coronary inflammation in psoriasis patients on biologics.
4. Acupuncture cuts attacks in chronic angina
   Chronic stable angina patients showed significant improvement with acupuncture over patients given shame or no acupuncture.

You can contact the MDedge Cardiocast by emailing us at [email protected] or following us on Twitter @MDedgeTweets

The top news in cardiology:

1. Meeting just 2 of 7 ‘simple’ goals lowers HF risk
   American Heart Association recommendations seem to lower risk even if only a couple of the 'Simple 7' are mastered.

2. Increased cardiovascular risk seen early on with testosterone replacement therapy
   Testosterone replacement therapy for low testosterone is linked to an early increase in the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events.
   
   
3. No increase in UTI risk with SGLT-2 inhibitors
   SGLT-2 inhibitors are not associated with an increased risk of severe urinary tract infections.
   
   
4. As patients, physicians fare nearly the same as everybody else
   Physicians do only slightly better than nonphysicians in adhering to guidelines "but not by much and not always."

You can contact the MDedge Cardiocast by emailing us at [email protected] or following us on Twitter at @MDedgeTweets.

1. Statins crush early seizure risk poststroke
   Statin initiation upon hospitalization for acute ischemic stroke was linked to a major antiseizure benefit in a Japanese study.
2. Atherosclerotic disease risk persists after smoking cessation
   Clinicians should reinforce smoking cessation with awareness that risk for several atherosclerotic diseases remains significant for decades.
3. Air pollution levels correlated with cardiorespiratory mortality; reduced life expectancy
   Fine particulate matter pollution is associated with increased cardiorespiratory mortality, particularly in lower-income areas.
4. Exercise counters astronauts' dizziness after space flight
   Two hours of daily activity during space flight eliminated hypotension after landing. 

You can contact the MDedge Cardiocast by emailing us at [email protected] or following us on Twitter @MDedgeCardio

This week in cardiology:

1. Systolic, diastolic BP each tied to adverse CV outcomes
   Diastolic hypertension can't be ignored, though systolic ultimately has a larger impact. 
2. Almost half of sudden cardiac deaths linked to prior silent MI
   Prior silent MIs were detected in nearly half of sudden cardiac deaths in people with no coronary artery disease.
3. How does uncontrolled hypertension play into dementia?
   Findings from a French cohort suggest that a vascular pathway, independent of amyloid, bears on cognitive decline.
4. Vaping device marketers take aim at youth through social media
   More than a third of JUUL-related posts contained promotional content that highlighted ways to obtain products at reduced cost. 

You can contact the Cardiocast by emailing us at [email protected] or interacting with us on Twitter @MDedgeCardio.