Diuretic efficiency of a single dose of subcutaneous versus oral furosemide after heart failure hospitalization across diuretic resistance strata: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

Aims: Diuretic resistance (DR) in heart failure (HF) is associated with worse outcomes. Furoscix®, a self-administered subcutaneous (sc) furosemide injection administered via on-body infusor, is approved for HF congestion relief. However, its efficacy in patients with DR post-HF hospitalization remains unknown.

Association between Polysocial Risk Score and CVH among Women of Reproductive Age in the SAFE HEART Study: An American Heart Association Research Goes Red Initiative: "Polysocial Risk and Cardiovascular Health in Women of Reproductive Age".

Background: To assess the association between polysocial risk factors and cardiovascular health (CVH) among women of reproductive age.

Methods: Our cross-sectional analysis included women of reproductive age (18-44 years) from community settings and the American Heart Association's Research Goes Red (RGR) registry. Polysocial risk scores (0-14) reflected social disadvantage across domains including socioeconomic stability (education, employment, income, insurance, financial strain), living situation (housing stability, housing quality, marital status, home ownership), food security, transportation, utilities, and interpersonal safety.

Heart Failure and All-Cause Hospitalizations in Patients With Heart Failure: A Meta-Analysis.

Importance: Heart failure (HF) hospitalization is a common end point in HF trials; however, how HF hospitalization is associated with all-cause hospitalization in terms of proportionality, correlation of treatment effects, and concomitant reporting has not been studied.

Objective: To determine the ratio of HF to all-cause hospitalizations, whether reported treatment effects on HF hospitalization are associated with treatment effects on all-cause hospitalization, and how often all-cause hospitalization is reported alongside HF hospitalization.

Data Sources: PubMed was searched from inception to September 2, 2024, for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of HF treatments using MeSH (medical subject heading) terms and keywords associated with heart failure, ventricular failure, ventricular dysfunction, and cardiac failure, as well as the names of specific journals.

Terbutaline for Management of Relative Bradycardia Post-Orthotopic Heart Transplant: A Single Center Experience.

Background: Vagal nerve denervation during the heart transplant procedure results in higher resting heart rates in these recipients compared to the general population. Relative bradycardia (RB) is a common and often temporary post-operative complication that can be managed with agents like terbutaline; however, little data exist on the efficacy, safety, and necessity of long-term terbutaline use post-heart transplant.

Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective, descriptive study conducted at a large academic medical center investigating oral terbutaline use for RB management in heart transplant recipients.

Young adults with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: Insights from the Houston Methodist Young ACS-PCI Registry.

Background: Limited data exist on the risk profile and prognosis of young patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This study sheds light on the burden of cardiovascular risk factors and outcomes in this population.

Methods: The Houston Methodist Young ACS-PCI registry is a retrospective analysis of young adults (18 to 50 years) undergoing PCI for ACS between 2010 and 2022.

Cost-effectiveness of TAVI in the United Kingdom: a long-term analysis based on 4-year data from the Evolut Low Risk Trial.

Background: The cost-effectiveness of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) vs. surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) has previously been reported across the spectrum of surgical mortality risk. We present an updated analysis specific to the UK based on 4-year data from the Evolut Low Risk Trial, which showed a maintained numerical survival benefit with TAVI.

Meta-Analysis of Dedicated vs Off-Label Transcatheter Devices for Native Aortic Regurgitation.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for high surgical risk patients with severe native aortic regurgitation (AR) presents unique challenges. Dedicated devices such as the JenaValve (JenaValve Technology) and J-Valve (JC Medical Inc) show promising results in addressing these challenges.

Objectives: This study compares the safety and efficacy of dedicated vs off-label devices among high surgical risk patients with pure native AR.

HDL-free cholesterol influx into macrophages and transfer to LDL correlate with HDL-free cholesterol content.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL)-free cholesterol (FC) transfers to other lipoproteins and cells, the former by a spontaneous mechanism and the latter by both spontaneous and receptor-mediated mechanisms. Macrophages are an important cell type in all stages of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), and the magnitude of FC efflux from macrophages to HDL, a metric of HDL function, inversely associated with several metrics of ASCVD. Very high plasma HDL concentrations are associated with increased all-cause and ASCVD mortality, suggesting that the reverse process, FC influx from HDL into macrophages, is atherogenic.

7-Year outcomes after surgical aortic valve replacement with a stented bovine pericardial bioprosthesis in over 1100 patients: a prospective multicenter analysis.

Objectives: Safety, efficacy, and durability are important considerations when selecting a bioprosthesis for aortic valve replacement (AVR). This study assessed 7-year clinical outcomes and haemodynamic performance of the Avalus bioprosthesis.

Methods: Patients indicated for surgical AVR were enrolled in this prospective, nonrandomized trial, conducted across 39 sites globally.

Intensive Lifestyle Intervention, Cardiac Biomarkers, and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Diabetes: Look AHEAD Cardiac Biomarker Ancillary Study.

Background: N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) are associated with cardiovascular outcomes and are recommended for measurement in type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the effects of an intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) targeting weight loss on cardiac biomarkers and the prognostic association of changes in these biomarkers with risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes in T2D are not well-established.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the effects of an ILI on cardiac biomarkers and the association of changes in cardiac biomarkers with risk of cardiovascular outcomes in T2D.

Outcomes of mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair in patients with mitral annular calcification: A meta-analysis.

Background: The impact of mitral annular calcification (MAC) on the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (MTEER) remains unclear. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the clinical outcomes of MTEER among patients with moderate to severe MAC compared to those with mild or no MAC.

Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases through March 31st, 2024, comparing clinical outcomes of MTEER among patients with moderate/severe (MAC+) versus no/mild MAC (MAC-).

Coronary Artery Calcium for Risk Stratification of Heart Failure Mortality: The Coronary Artery Calcium Consortium.

Background: There is increasing interest in predicting heart failure (HF), a major cause of morbidity and mortality with a significant financial burden. The role of coronary artery calcium (CAC), an accessible and inexpensive test, in predicting long-term HF mortality among asymptomatic adults remains unknown. We aimed to determine whether CAC burden is associated with HF-related mortality in the CAC Consortium.

Echocardiographic Evaluation of Chronic Aortic Regurgitation: Comparison With Cardiac Magnetic Resonance and Implications for Guideline Recommendations.

Background: Guidelines for echocardiographic evaluation of aortic regurgitation (AR) have not been validated against an independent quantitative standard.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the ASE (American Society of Echocardiography) AR guidelines against cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and to develop simplified approaches for detection of significant AR.

Methods: Patients with AR underwent echocardiography and CMR <4 hours apart.

Vital Exhaustion and Biomarkers Associated With Cardiovascular Risk: The ARIC Study.

Background: Vital exhaustion, defined as excessive fatigue, demoralization, and irritability due to chronic stress, is independently associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the association of vital exhaustion with biomarkers associated with CVD risk in the ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities) study.

Methods: We examined the cross-sectional association of vital exhaustion (assessed using the Maastricht Vital Exhaustion Questionnaire [MVEQ]) with cardiac biomarker (high-sensitivity troponin T [hs-TnT], N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide [NT-proBNP]) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in 11,542 ARIC study participants without CVD at ARIC visit 2 using multivariable logistic and linear regression models.

Decision-Making Approach to the Treatment of Young and Low-Risk Patients With Aortic Stenosis.

Over a decade of randomized controlled trial data demonstrate excellent outcomes with transcatheter aortic valve replacement or surgical aortic valve replacement for patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis regardless of surgical risk. The 2020 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines recommend both options for low-risk AS patients aged 65 to 80 years. However, the fastest growing population of patients receiving transcatheter aortic valve replacement in the United States is <65 years old, with little data to support the practice.

Green Streets, Healthy Hearts: Exploring the Roles of Urban Nature and Walkability in Cardiovascular Health.

With the growing evidence that connects urban environments with public health outcomes, the role of urban planning has become increasingly critical in addressing public health challenges. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of mortality in urban areas and worldwide and are impacted by characteristics of the built environment, such as walkability and nature exposure. In this literature view, we explore the influence of the physical built environment, specifically green spaces and walkability, on cardiovascular health.