Scott Buzby

NEW ORLEANS — Once-daily baxdrostat, when added on to maximally tolerated antihypertensive therapy, significantly reduced 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure in people with resistant hypertension, a speaker reported.Baxdrostat (AstraZeneca), an aldosterone synthase inhibitor designed to lower BP in adults who have hypertension despite taking multiple BP medications, is not yet approved by the

NEW ORLEANS — One month of dual antithrombotic therapy followed by direct oral anticoagulation alone may be as safe vs. 1 year of dual therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with atrial fibrillation, a speaker reported.The results of the prospective, randomized controlled OPTIMA-AF trial evaluating optimal dual antiplatelet duration strategies in patients with AF who

Strength exercise may be safe for people with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy

BOSTON — Cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibition has previously demonstrated significant efficacy in reducing atherogenic lipids and may benefit high-risk patients who are unable to achieve their LDL goals, a speaker reported. At the 20th Cardiometabolic Health Congress, Erin D. Michos, MD, MHS, FAHA, FACC, FASE, FASPC, professor of medicine and director of Women’s

NEW ORLEANS — A study utilizing financial incentives tied to use of an electronically monitored pill bottle improved tracked adherence to antihypertensive medications, but gaps remained in actual BP change, a speaker reported. BETTER-BP, presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions and simultaneously published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, was a

NEW ORLEANS — Zalunfiban, a prehospital platelet inhibitor given by injection at the point of first medical contact for suspected STEMI, improved preintervention infarct-related patency and reduced the likelihood of adverse outcomes at 30 days.Moreover, rapid treatment did not increase major bleeding risk vs. placebo, according to the CELEBRATE trial results.

NEW ORLEANS — A conservative transfusion approach after general and vascular surgery was shown to be safe vs. earlier, less restrictive transfusion and may reduce the amount of blood given, as well as cost, speakers reported.The results of the TOP trial comparing liberal vs. restrictive blood transfusion strategies based on hemoglobin levels after general and vascular surgery were presented

BOSTON — Healthy lifestyle behaviors greatly influence risk for cardiometabolic diseases; however, the practice of behavior change can be challenging and complex for patients, according to a speaker at the Cardiometabolic Health Congress. Lenny Kaminsky, PhD, FAHA, said behavior change is “anything but simple.” Health care professionals play an important role in advocating

GLP-1 receptor agonists may have beneficial effects against Alzheimers, psychiatric and addiction disorders, but early data are “not sufficient to establish an indication,” a speaker reported.At the Cardiometabolic Health Congress, Ziyad Al-Aly, MD, discussed the current understanding of the impact of GLP-1s on Alzheimers disease, addictive disorders and psychiatric disorders.

BOSTON — In the treatment of cardiometabolic disease, much has changed in the past 20 years, especially with the emergence of novel therapies to manage inflammation, lipids, hypertension, obesity, diabetes and thrombosis, speakers reported. At the 20th Cardiometabolic Health Congress, Christie M. Ballantyne, MD, FACC, FACP, FAHA, FNLAKeith C. Ferdinand, MD, FAHA, FACC, FASPC, FNLA, FPCNA