CARDIOPROGRESS
Foundation for the advancement of cardiology

New horizons of cardiotherapy Since the introduction of the first implantable stimulator and defibrillator (ICD), cardiological science has advanced far. ICDs are highly effective, but their main disadvantage is the complications associated with the electrodes. To avoid the need for venous access and complications caused by transvenous electrodes, a fully subcutaneous ICD system (pc-ICD) was developed.

Integrated model of medical care for the treatment of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in China A new study involving 6817 patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction has shown that every minute of life counts. Chinese scientists have tested an integrated aid model. This study assessed the impact of a comprehensive IMPST treatment strategy in China.

The relationship between low‑density lipoprotein cholesterol, the apolipoprotein B ratio, and sarcopenia The ratio of low‑density lipoprotein cholesterol to apolipoprotein B (LDL‑C/ApoB) (LDL-C/ApoB), which reflects the cholesterol content in an atherogenic lipoprotein particle, may serve as a new biomarker for the risk of sarcopenia. Scientists conducted a study based on data from the largest American representative survey (NHANES).

Blood Pressure Variability Linked to Cognitive Decline in High-Risk Adults Higher visit-to-visit systolic blood pressure variability was independently associated with faster cognitive decline in adults at elevated cardiovascular risk, regardless of mean blood pressure levels in a study.

General Anesthesia Ups Heart Failure Risk After Valve Surgery Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) patients who received general anesthesia had a higher incidence of heart failure at 1 year than those who received nongeneral anesthesia.

ACE inhibitors may slow cognitive decline Patients treated exclusively with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors had lower overall cancer incidence than those treated exclusively with angiotensin receptor blockers over 23 years of follow-up. ACEI therapy was linked to lower odds for breast, prostate, melanoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, kidney, and colorectal cancers, but higher odds for lung, bladder, and pancreatic cancers.

Type 2 Diabetes and Heart Failure: The Diagnosis Site Matters Among patients with type 2 diabetes, heart failure recorded during hospitalisation was associated with greater functional dependence and more severe renal impairment, whereas heart failure recorded in primary care often involved older patients with a higher comorbidity burden and greater functional independence.

Continuing Anticoagulation After AF Ablation Reduces Stroke Risk in High-Risk Patients Continuing oral anticoagulation (OAC) after atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation was not associated with reduced stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) risk overall and increased the risk for major bleeding. However, in high-risk patients with CHA2DS2-VASc scores ≥2, continuing OACs was associated with a significantly lower risk for stroke/TIA.

ACE Inhibitors vs ARBs: Long-Term Cancer Risk Varies Among patients with type 2 diabetes, heart failure recorded during hospitalisation was associated with greater functional dependence and more severe renal impairment, whereas heart failure recorded in primary care often involved older patients with a higher comorbidity burden and greater functional independence.

Ventricular arrhythmias during exercise in patients with mitral valve prolapse Mitral valve prolapse may be associated with ventricular arrhythmias, but little is known about the relationship between VA and exercise in these patients.

The release of a new open access journal of cardiology In August 2026, a group of cardiologists launched the peer—reviewed open access journal OpenSource: Cardiology. The main difference of the publication is the complete absence of publication fees for the authors.

To Beat Cigarette Addiction, Experts Embrace Vapes Clinicians can now recommend vapes, along with nicotine patches and gums, to their adult patients who want to quit smoking traditional cigarettes. The guidance, from a leading international group of tobacco researchers, represents a sharp pivot from an earlier stance that evolved as evidence mounted that vaping may be more effective in helping people quit cigarettes than traditional nicotine replacement therapies like varenicline or bupropion.

New Guidelines Expand Statin Eligibility to More Than Half of US Adults A new study has shown that the updated recommendations of the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology on dyslipidemia, published in March 2026, expand indications for statin therapy for primary prevention, now covering adults aged 30-79 years (instead of 40-75 years), assessing the risk for several decades ahead and using an updated risk calculator, which will allow such treatment to spread. 87.5 million adults in the United States.

Obesity and CVD: Launching the Heart Foundation's new clinical consensus statement In Australia, about two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese, placing them at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) including coronary heart disease, heart failure, and arrhythmias. The Heart Foundation recently launched an Australian-first clinical consensus statement on obesity and CVD.

Simulation deficit in cardiology training: a missed opportunity for the modern trainee Cardiology training today exists in a paradox. As the specialty becomes more complex, particularly in procedural domains, the time and resources available to train new cardiologists have dwindled. Simulation has become an increasingly important component of modern cardiology training, offering a safe, structured and reproducible environment in which clinical skills can be developed and refined.1 The term simulation encompasses a broad spectrum of educational approaches, ranging from focused task training to high-fidelity scenario-based learning.

Shingles vaccine protects against cardiovascular diseases Shingles vaccination reduced major adverse cardiac events and secondary cardiovascular outcomes for patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to new research.

Heart failure evidence update 2026 The interval since the 2021 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines and 2022 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology/Heart Failure Society of America (AHA/ACC/HFSA) Guidelines publications has witnessed an unprecedented volume of evidence that substantially expands the therapeutic landscape across the entire ejection fraction spectrum.

Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Acute Pulmonary Embolism in Adults in 2026 The 2026 Guidelines for the Evaluation and Management of Acute Pulmonary Embolism in Adults, developed by the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, the American College of Chest Physicians, the American College of Embolology et al.

Guideline on the Management of Dyslipidemia The new 2026 ACC/AHA/AACVPR et al. Guidelines for the Management of Dyslipidemia have been published. These guidelines address the assessment, treatment, and monitoring of individuals with dyslipidemia, including high blood cholesterol, elevated triglycerides, and elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)]. These new guidelines address primary, secondary, and primary prevention, provide guidance for care of adults and children, reinstate risk-based treatment targets for low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and replace the 2018 AHA/ACC/Multisociety Cholesterol Treatment Guidelines.

Quadpill Strategy Gains Ground in Hypertension Several new antihypertensive agents are reshaping the therapeutic strategies for patients with uncontrolled or resistant hypertension. Agents such as baxdrostat, the first selective aldosterone synthase inhibitor, and aprocitentan, a dual endothelin receptor A and B antagonist, are paving the way for new drug combinations and a more personalized approach to blood pressure control.