Katie Kalvaitis

CHICAGO — Treatment with the heart failure medication sacubitril/valsartan was associated with a lower risk for chemotherapy-related heart damage among high-risk patients with cancer, according to preliminary results of the SARAH trial.Researchers assessed the effects of the angiotensin receptor/neprilysin inhibitor sacubitril/valsartan (Entresto, Novartis) on prevention of cardiotoxicity

CHICAGO — In the BRAIN-AF trial, daily rivaroxaban did not reduce the incidence of cognitive decline, stroke or transient ischemic attack, compared with placebo, among younger patients with atrial fibrillation and low stroke risk.BRAIN-AF is the first large trial to focus on assessing whether a blood thinner can reduce risk for cognitive decline, stroke or TIA among adults younger than 65

CHICAGO — Reconditioned cardiac devices could help meet an overwhelming need outside of the United States.In a new study presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, pacemakers that were reconditioned with an FDA-approved protocol were safe and worked as well as new devices among patients with an indication for a pacemaker living in Venezuela, Nigeria, Paraguay, Kenya,

CHICAGO — An intensive blood pressure strategy resulted in a lower incidence of major cardiovascular events compared with a more standard strategy among patients with type 2 diabetes and elevated systolic blood pressure in the BPROAD trial.The BPROAD trial aimed to determine the optimal systolic BP control target for patients with type 2 diabetes. To date, other trials that examined this

CHICAGO — In the OPTION trial, left atrial appendage closure resulted in similar thromboembolic protection but superior bleeding outcomes compared with oral anticoagulation among patients who underwent ablation for atrial fibrillation. OPTION is the first head-to-head comparison of left atrial appendage (LAA) closure with the Watchman FLX device (Boston Scientific) and oral anticoagulation

CHICAGO — The presence of breast arterial calcifications on routine mammograms may signal increased risk for atherosclerotic CVD later in life, according to research presented at the Annual Meeting of The Menopause Society.“It may be surprising that a mammogram can provide information beyond breast cancer screening, including heart health. However, examining the vessels in the breast

For older adults with non-STEMI, routine coronary intervention was safe but did not lower risk for death from CV causes or nonfatal MI compared with medical therapy alone, according to new data from the SENIOR-RITA trial.“Our study, in a sense, provides a foundation for older heart attack patients and their clinicians to make informed decisions about whether they need to undergo invasive

Women with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis had better outcomes at 1 year after transcatheter aortic valve replacement with a balloon-expandable valve compared with women who underwent surgery, according to new data from the RHEIA trial.At 1 year, the primary composite endpoint of death, stroke or rehospitalization was reported in 15.6% of women who underwent surgical AVR compared with 8.9% who

Measuring three factors can predict women’s 30-year risk for heart disease

Hypertension expert and longtime editorial board member for Healio | Cardiology and Healio | Endocrinology George L. Bakris, MD, died June 15, 2024, at the age of 72.Bakris, a nephrologist by training whose work intersected with multiple specialties, was an internationally recognized expert in hypertension and diabetic kidney disease.