CARDIOPROGRESS
Foundation for the advancement of cardiology

Artificial intelligence for the echocardiographic assessment of valvular heart disease Developments in artificial intelligence (AI) have led to an explosion of studies exploring its application to cardiovascular medicine. Due to the need for training and expertise, one area where AI could be impactful would be in the diagnosis and management of valvular heart disease. This is because AI can be applied to the multitude of data generated from clinical assessments, imaging and biochemical testing during the care of the patient.

Smartphone detection of atrial fibrillation using photoplethysmography: a systematic review and meta-analysis The development of novel screening devices has the potential to increase screening coverage and improve clinical detection of AF. Smartphone applications can allow self-detection of arrhythmias, allowing for patient self-care and involvement.6 Photoplethysmography (PPG) technology found in smartphone cameras can be used for AF screening by patients in the community. The technique uses the light-emitting diode in cameras to measure pulsatile changes in light intensity that are reflected from a finger (or face). Several smartphone PPG applications are currently available, but their clinical value for AF detection is unclear.

A Week of Anticoagulation Halves Post-PCI Radial Occlusion Rate BOSTON — Following transradial access for angiography or a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), a low dose of the factor Xa inhibitor rivaroxaban for 7 days reduces the risk of an access-site occlusion by 50%, according to results of the randomized RIVARAD trial.

Expert Consensus Guides Use of Cardiac CT in Patients With Cancer The Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) has issued an expert consensus statement to guide use of cardiac computed tomography (CCT) in the care of cardio-oncology patients.

Frailty Poses No Limit to HFpEF Meds BARCELONA — Increased frailty of patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) should have no bearing on whether those patients receive sacubitril/valsartan (Entresto), according to results of a post hoc analysis of data from a pivotal trial.

PASCAL for MV Repair Noninferior to MitraClip in CLASP IID, FDA Took Notice A newly available transcatheter device for edge-to-edge mitral valve (MV) repair, named for a famed scientist-inventor, is similar to the long-available MitraClip (Abbott) for short-term efficacy and safety, suggests an interim but prespecified analysis from a randomized trial.

How Does Salt Intake Relate to Mortality? Intake of salt is a biological necessity, inextricably woven into physiologic systems. However, excessive salt intake is associated with high blood pressure. Hypertension is linked to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and it is estimated that excessive salt intake causes approximately 5 million deaths per year worldwide. Reducing salt intake lowers blood pressure, but processed foods contain "hidden" salt, which makes dietary control of salt difficult. This problem is compounded by growing inequalities in food systems, which present another hurdle to sustaining individual dietary control of salt intake.

Cumulative Blood Pressure Load: A Better Predictor of CV Events? Cumulative systolic blood pressure load, which can be calculated from serial blood pressure measurements, may provide better prediction of major cardiovascular events compared with traditional blood pressure measures, a new study suggests.

Vitamins or Cocoa: Which Preserves Cognition? Unexpected results from a phase 3 trial exploring the effect of multivitamins and cognition have now been published. Findings from a phase 3 study show daily multivitamin use, but not cocoa, is linked to a significantly slower rate of age-related cognitive decline.

Premature menopause is associated with increased risk of heart problems Menopause before 40 years of age is associated with elevated risks of heart failure and atrial fibrillation, according to a study published today in European Heart Journal, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Hidden Risk for Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases? Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) face an increased risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D), metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), and cardiovascular disease (CVD), although these risks vary depending on PCOS phenotype.

Can Electronic Decision Support Improve Acute Heart Failure Care in EDs? An electronic decision support tool may increase the prescription of guideline–directed medical therapy for patients with acute heart failure (AHF) in emergency departments (EDs), with no serious adverse events (SAEs) within 30 days among very low-risk patients who are discharged.

Dear colleagues! I welcome you on behalf of the Organizing Committee of the XI International Forum for Cardiology and Internal Medicine, which will be held from March 22 to 24, 2022 in Moscow.

Polypill Shows LDL-Lowering Advantage in High-risk Primary Prevention Patients: VULCANO Key Takeaways The CNIC (Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares) polypill contains acetylsalicylic acid (100 mg), atorvastatin (30 mg or 40 mg), and ramipril (2.5 mg, 5 mg, or 10 mg), and is the only polypill for cardiovascular disease (CVD) currently marketed in European countries.

Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2022 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association The American Heart Association, in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, annually reports the most up-to-date statistics related to heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular risk factors, including core health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, diet, and weight) and health factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose control) that contribute to cardiovascular health.

The Scientific Committee begins accepting abstracts and applications for the scientific program of the XI International Forum of Cardiology and Internal Medicine Dear Colleagues! We invite you to take part in XI International Forum of Cardiology and Internal Medicine. Forum will take place on 22-24 March 2022 in Moscow (online).

Analysis of the activities of the "Cardioprogress" foundation: results of 2021 Dear colleagues! In 2021, a number of significant events took place in cardiology. Due to the continuation of restrictive measures, most scientific events were organized online. This required adaptation and the acquisition of new skills. However, all planned events took place.

Aspirin is linked with increased risk of heart failure Aspirin use is associated with a 26% raised risk of heart failure in people with at least one predisposing factor for the condition. That’s the finding of a study published today in ESC Heart Failure, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

Depression worsened during pandemic, boosting heart disease risk, experts warn It may translate into another long-term effect of the coronavirus crisis — more heart disease cases even in people who never had COVID-19 at all. More than one-third of patients studied reported becoming depressed or experiencing continued symptoms of depression during the first year of the pandemic.

Longer Sleep Improves Cardiovascular Outcomes: Time to Make Sleep a Priority Causal diagrams demonstrating potential relationships between genetic causes (G) of sleep duration, sleep duration (S), and a cardiovascular outcome (Y). (A) G is a valid instrumental variable for the relationship of S and Y, and can be used to estimated the S–Y association (orange arrow). (B) G has a pleiotropic association with Y. Because there are no unmeasured confounders (U) of the S–Y association, causal mediation analysis can be used to estimate both the direct (pleiotropic) association of G and Y, and the indirect effect via S. (C) The pleiotropic effect of G on Y can be measured by blocking the pathway through S, which is done by conditioning on levels of S. (D) The effect of S on Y independently of G can be measured by blocking pathways through G and C (measured confounders) by conditioning or using matching methods.