Randomized, Controlled Trial Comparing Mitral Valve Repair With Leaflet Resection Versus Leaflet Preservation on Functional Mitral Stenosis: The CAMRA CardioLink-2 Study.

Background: Equipoise exists between the use of leaflet resection and preservation for surgical repair of mitral regurgitation caused by prolapse. We therefore performed a randomized, controlled trial comparing these 2 techniques, particularly in regard to functional mitral stenosis.

Methods: One hundred four patients with degenerative mitral regurgitation surgically amenable to either leaflet resection or preservation were randomized at 7 specialized cardiac surgical centers.

Sacubitril/Valsartan: Neprilysin Inhibition 5 Years After PARADIGM-HF.

Sacubitril/valsartan, an angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI), has been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalization and improve symptoms among patients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction compared to enalapril, the gold standard angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. In the 5 years since the publication of the results of PARADIGM-HF, further insight has been gained into integrating a neprilysin inhibitor into a comprehensive multidrug regimen, including a renin-angiotensin aldosterone system (RAS) blocker. This paper reviews the current understanding of the effects of sacubitril/valsartan and highlights expected developments over the next 5 years, including potential new indications for use.

Predicting 10-year risk of recurrent cardiovascular events andcardiovascular interventions in patients with established cardiovascular disease: results from UCC-SMART and REACH.

Background: Existing cardiovascular risk scores for patients with established cardiovascular disease (CVD) estimate residual risk of recurrent major cardiovascular events (MACE). The aim of the current study is to develop and externally validate a prediction model to estimate the 10-year combined risk of recurrent MACE and cardiovascular interventions (MACE+) in patients with established CVD.

Methods: Data of patients with established CVD from the UCC-SMART cohort (N = 8421) were used for model development, and patient data from REACH Western Europe (N = 14,528) and REACH North America (N = 19,495) for model validation.

Rivaroxaban for Prevention of Covert Brain Infarcts and Cognitive Decline: The COMPASS MRI Substudy.

Background And Purpose: Covert brain infarcts are associated with cognitive decline. It is not known whether therapies that prevent symptomatic stroke prevent covert infarcts. COMPASS compared rivaroxaban with and without aspirin with aspirin for the prevention of stroke, myocardial infarction, and vascular death in participants with stable vascular disease and was terminated early because of benefits of rivaroxaban 2.

Lifelong Aspirin for All in the Secondary Prevention of Chronic Coronary Syndrome: Still Sacrosanct or Is Reappraisal Warranted?

Four decades have passed since the first trial suggesting the efficacy of aspirin in the secondary prevention of myocardial infarction. Further trials, collectively summarized by the Antithrombotic Trialists' Collaboration, solidified the historical role of aspirin in secondary prevention. Although the benefit of aspirin in the immediate phase after a myocardial infarction remains incontrovertible, a number of emerging lines of evidence, discussed in this narrative review, raise some uncertainty as to the primacy of aspirin for the lifelong management of all patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS).

Eligibility for Low-Dose Rivaroxaban Based on the COMPASS Trial: Insights from the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System.

Introduction: Low-dose rivaroxaban reduced major adverse cardiac and limb events among patients with stable atherosclerotic vascular disease (ASCVD) in the COMPASS trial. The objective of our study was to evaluate the eligibility and budgetary impact of the COMPASS trial in a real-world population.

Methods: The VA administrative and clinical databases were utilized to conduct a cross-sectional study to identify patients eligible for low-dose rivaroxaban receiving care at all 141 facilities between October 1, 2014 and September 30, 2015.

Long-Term Bleeding Risk Prediction with Dual Antiplatelet Therapy After Acute Coronary Syndromes Treated Without Revascularization.

Background: Longitudinal bleeding risk scores have been validated in patients treated with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) following percutaneous coronary intervention. How these scores apply to the population of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) treated without revascularization remains unknown. The objective was to evaluate and compare the performances of the PRECISE-DAPT, PARIS, and DAPT (bleeding component) bleeding risk scores in the medically managed patients with ACS treated with DAPT.

Angioedema with sacubitril/valsartan: Trial-level meta-analysis of over 14,000 patients and real-world evidence to date.

Background: Sacubitril/valsartan reduces the risk of hospitalizations and death among patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction; its use is poised to increase worldwide. As bradykinin is a substrate of neprilysin, angioedema was a theoretical concern potentiated by neprilysin inhibition.

Methods: We explored angioedema in clinical trials and real-world pharmacovigilance data.

Trends in Female Authorship: A Bibliometric Analysis of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.

Background: Women continue to comprise a small minority of cardiothoracic surgeons. Representation of women in areas of academic achievement has not been well characterized. This study aims to evaluate female representation among authorship positions in high-impact articles published in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.

Antiplatelet patterns and outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation not prescribed an anticoagulant after stroke.

Background: To determine association of discharge antiplatelet therapy prescription with 1-year outcomes among patients with AF admitted with acute ischemic stroke and discharged without oral anticoagulation.

Methods: In a retrospective cohort study from the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke registry, we identified all Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries 65 years or older with AF or atrial flutter admitted with acute ischemic stroke and discharged without oral anticoagulation from April 2003 through December 2014, and we determined association of discharge antiplatelet therapy prescription with 1-year outcomes using Medicare claims data. Primary outcomes were 1-year mortality and composite endpoint of major adverse cardiovascular/neurologic/bleeding events (MACNBE).

Three-Year Outcomes of Bariatric Surgery in Patients With Obesity and Hypertension : A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Midterm effects of bariatric surgery on patients with obesity and hypertension remain uncertain.

Objective: To determine the 3-year effects of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) on blood pressure (BP) compared with medical therapy (MT) alone.

Design: Randomized clinical trial.

Dual Antiplatelet Therapy After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention and Drug-Eluting Stents: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

Background: The optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents remains uncertain. We compared short-term (<6-month) DAPT followed by aspirin or P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy; midterm (6-month) DAPT; 12-month DAPT; and extended-term (>12-month) DAPT after percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents.

Methods: Twenty-four randomized, controlled trials were selected using Medline, Embase, Cochrane library, and online databases through September 2019.

Representation of Women Authors in International Heart Failure Guidelines and Contemporary Clinical Trials.

Background: Gender disparities in authorship of heart failure (HF) guideline citations and clinical trials have not been examined.

Methods: We identified authors of publications referenced in Class I Recommendations in United States (n=173) and European (n=100) HF guidelines and of publications of all HF trials with >400 participants (n=118) published between 2001 and 2016. Authors' genders were determined, and changes in authorship patterns over time were evaluated with linear regression and nonparametric testing.

Effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists liraglutide and semaglutide on cardiovascular and renal outcomes across body mass index categories in type 2 diabetes: Results of the LEADER and SUSTAIN 6 trials.

Associations between body mass index (BMI) and the cardiovascular (CV) and kidney efficacy of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) are uncertain; therefore, data analysed separately from the Liraglutide Effect and Action in Diabetes: Evaluation of Cardiovascular Outcome Results (LEADER) trial and the Trial to Evaluate Cardiovascular and Other Long-term Outcomes with Semaglutide in Subjects with Type 2 Diabetes (SUSTAIN 6) were examined. These international, randomized, placebo-controlled trials investigated liraglutide and semaglutide (both subcutaneous) in patients with T2D and at high risk of CV events. In post hoc analyses, patients were categorized by baseline BMI (<25, ≥25-<30, ≥30-<35 and ≥35 kg/m ), and CV and kidney outcomes with GLP-1 RA versus placebo were analysed.

Safety and efficacy of drug eluting stents vs bare metal stents in patients with atrial fibrillation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of drug-eluting stents (DES) vs bare-metal stents (BMS) in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients.

Methods: We systematically searched 5 engines until May 2019 for cohort studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Primary outcomes were major bleeding and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) including cardiac death, myocardial infarction, target vessel revascularization (TVR) or stent thrombosis.

Extrapulmonary manifestations of COVID-19.

Although COVID-19 is most well known for causing substantial respiratory pathology, it can also result in several extrapulmonary manifestations. These conditions include thrombotic complications, myocardial dysfunction and arrhythmia, acute coronary syndromes, acute kidney injury, gastrointestinal symptoms, hepatocellular injury, hyperglycemia and ketosis, neurologic illnesses, ocular symptoms, and dermatologic complications. Given that ACE2, the entry receptor for the causative coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, is expressed in multiple extrapulmonary tissues, direct viral tissue damage is a plausible mechanism of injury.

Targeting multiple domains of residual cardiovascular disease risk in patients with diabetes.

Purpose Of Review: There has been a recent resurgence of diabetes-related cardiovascular complications after years of steady improvement. This review highlights established and emerging contemporary secondary prevention approaches that lower the risk of atherosclerotic and nonatherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events among patients with diabetes.

Recent Findings: Secondary prevention therapies modify residual risk targets, including cardiometabolic pathways, lipoproteins, thrombosis, and inflammation.

Multivessel Versus Culprit-Only Revascularization in STEMI and Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease: Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials.

Objectives: The goal of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to provide a comprehensive evaluation of contemporary randomized trials addressing the efficacy and safety of multivessel versus culprit vessel-only percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) among patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and multivessel coronary artery disease.

Background: Multivessel coronary artery disease is present in about one-half of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Randomized controlled trials comparing multivessel and culprit vessel-only PCI produced conflicting results regarding the benefits of a multivessel PCI strategy.

Influence of Influenza Infection on In-Hospital Acute Myocardial Infarction Outcomes.

Influenza is associated with significant morbidity in the United States but its influence on in-hospital outcomes in patients with AMI has not been well studied. The Nationwide Readmission Database (NRD) from 2010 to 2014 was queried using the International Classification of Diseases-Ninth edition, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes to identify all patients ≥18 years who were admitted for AMI with and without concurrent influenza. Propensity score matching was used to adjust patients' baseline characteristics and co-morbidities.