CARDIOPROGRESS
Foundation for the advancement of cardiology

Adding Cardiac Shockwave to CABG Boosts LVEF, Function, QoL In patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery for ischemic cardiomyopathy, adjunctive cardiac shockwave therapy (SWT) improved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in the single-center CAST-HF study.

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.

Spanish Cardiologists Release Gender-Specific CV Guide The Spanish Society of Cardiology (SEC) Working Group on Women and Cardiovascular Diseases (SEC-GT CVD in Women) and the Association of Preventive Cardiology have convened an interdisciplinary group of experts from various Spanish societies and associations issued SEC-approved clinical guidelines published in the English-language edition of the Revista Española de Cardiología journal, which is designed to help medical professionals. in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases in women, paying special attention to gender differences.

Risk Model Validates Finerenone Effect in Heart Failure The Prognostic Models for Mortality and Morbidity in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction (PREDICT-HFpEF) tool effectively stratified cardiovascular risk, with risk being higher in the highest than in the lowest score quintile. Finerenone was consistently effective across risk levels in patients with heart failure with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction (HFmrEF/HFpEF), with a large absolute benefit observed in high-risk patients.

Peripheral arterial disease - indications for intervention: from open surgery to endovascular and hybrid repair Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a marker of increased risk of СV mortality and limb loss. Staging of limb ischaemia severity, assessment of patient risk and knowledge of PAD anatomy are essential requirements to improve survival, reduce major cardiovascular events and to treat the ischaemic syndrome.

New Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Adult Overweight and Obesity Synopsis summarizes the key recommendations of the guideline regarding management of overweight and obesity, including referral to comprehensive lifestyle interventions that combine behavioral, dietary, and physical activity change, and additional tools of pharmacologic and procedural interventions.

HFA CONFERENCE NEWS June 29 - July 01, 2021, Virtual IV Iron Can Save Costs in HF With Iron Deficiency in Analysis; HF Med Undertreatment Due to Older Age Common, Flouts Evidence; Iron-Clad Benefits of CRT Seen in Reduced-EF Heart Failure; Assays May Guide SGLT2 Inhibitor Use in High CV-Risk Diabetes

"COVID-19 and cardiovascular diseases: main aspects" The report of Igor S. Yavelov MD, PhD, Professor of cardiology CV risk factors and CVD are present in many patients with COVID-19 and their presence is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular complications with new coronavirus infection.

Young adults who lost and then restored heart health had lower risk of heart attack, stroke A long-term analysis of young adults in Korea found that those with poor heart health had higher rates of cardiovascular disease at a younger age.

EAS Helsinki 2021 Virtual. THE RISE OF CARDIOMETABOLIC DISEASE Not only are we living in a COVID-19 pandemic, but also an accelerating pandemic of cardiometabolic disease, requiring renewed focus. The third plenary session discussed options to address this escalation in cardiometabolic disease.

COVID-19 vaccine benefits still outweigh risks, despite possible rare heart complications. Statement from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Late last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) alerted health care professionals that they are monitoring the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) and the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) for cases of young adults developing the rare heart-related complication myocarditis, after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna.

Administration of patients during and after a coronavirus pandemic. Interview with professor Mekhman N. Mamedov. Dear Colleagues! On April 27, 2021, at the initiative of the Indonesian Society of Cardiology, an online meeting was held with one of the leading experts of Russia in the cardiology, Professor Mekhman N. Mamedov