Top 10 News from Cardiology : 2018

The year 2018 witnessed another active year for research and clinical advances in the field of cardiology. New drugs, devices, diagnoses, prognoses and treatment in cardiac sciences has set a new paradigm shift in this specialty.

Medical Dialogues has planned to publish top 10 news of different specialties. We are commencing the series with cardiology. The most popular health news articles that our editorial team found most revolutionary in cardiac science in the year 2018 are shown below.

1.CT Angio reveals statins benefit even in non-obstructive atherosclerosis: CONFIRM study

Statins may be beneficial even in patients with lower degrees of subclinical atherosclerosis as detected by Coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA).

The study known as CONFIRM (COronary CT Angiography EvaluatioN For Clinical Outcomes: An InteRnational Multicenter) published in the journal PLOS One has reported that the baseline use of statins was associated with mitigation of increased mortality risk despite the presence or burden of non-obstructive atherosclerosis and the findings support the notion that statins may be beneficial in even patients with lower degrees of subclinical atherosclerosis as detected by CCTA.

2. Attention cardiologists-Sharing pictures of silent atherosclerosis with patients lower CV risk finds Lancet study

A massive randomized trial of over 3000 people has provided evidence that ultrasound-based pictorial presentation of silent atherosclerosis to patients and their doctors resulted in a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease one year later, compared to people receiving usual information about their risk. The study was published in the journal Lancet.

3.US guidelines refuted: Early BP treatment has no survival benefits

A new study published in European Heart Journal has reported that early treatment of hypertensive patients does not reduce the risk of deadly heart disease and could even negatively affect their mental health. The lower BP cut-off substantially increased hypertension prevalence and participants under treatment were more likely to have a depressed mood in comparison to non-treated participants.

4.Bypass scores over stents in diabetics with heart problems: FREEDOM trial

Diabetics with multiple clogged heart arteries have a long-term survival if they undergo bypass surgery rather than getting their blood vessels reopened with stents, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Patients treated with coronary-artery bypass surgery survive about three years longer than those who have their blood vessels propped open with stents.

5.Alpha blockers lower mortality in Heart Failure: JACC

The use of alpha-blocker (AB) following admission for heart failure (HF) is associated with a lower rate of HF readmission and death, according to a new study published in the journal JACC: Heart Failure. Higher doses and nonselective ABs were also associated with lower mortality, regardless of the use of beta-blocker (BB).

6.Angioplasty beneficial even beyond 12 hours of Heart attack symptoms

A new study finds that Primary PCI is beneficial even beyond 12 hours of onset of Heart attack symptoms.

STEMI patients with signs of ongoing ischemia treated with primary PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention) 12 to 72 hours after symptom onset had less myocardial salvage and developed larger infarcts, according to a new study published in the Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions. However, a large proportion achieved substantial myocardial salvage indicating a benefit from primary PCI in late-presenting patients.

7. Indian made stent found as good as world’s best – Talent trial

Indian made DES stent Supraflex has been found to be a worthy match to world’s best Xience stent n a study presented at TCT 2018.

The findings of the TALENT trial have established India’s largest stent manufacturer SMT’s Supraflex stent clinically at par with Abbott’s Xience family, with a numerically better outcome. This certainly is a boost to Indian Medical equipment manufacturing industry and Prime Minister Modi’s Make in India Campaign.

8. For angioplasty in heart attack, the radial route has less adverse effects: Lancet

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or heart attack patients undergoing invasive therapies with the radial access site had a fewer net adverse clinical events at 1 year than with femoral access site, but not result in the lower rates of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

These are the findings from the MATRIX trial presented at the European Society of Cardiology and simultaneously published in The Lancet.

9.Omega-3 fatty acids no longer effective for heart attack: EMA

Omega-3 fatty acid medicines are not effective in preventing further heart and blood vessels problems in patients who have had a heart attack, concluded EMA, based on a review of data accumulated over the year. This means that these medicines would be no longer authorized for secondary prevention of CVD following myocardial infarction.

Although there are no new safety concerns, the EMA concluded that the benefit-risk balance of these medicines to prevent recurrence of heart disease or stroke is now negative.

10.HDL cholesterol greater than 60 mg/dl increases the risk of heart attack-ESC Update

An increased risk of heart attack and death may be associated with very high levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or “good” cholesterol, reports research presented at ESC Congress 2018. Participants with HDL cholesterol levels greater than 60 mg/dl (1.5 mmol/L) had a nearly 50% increased risk of dying from a cardiovascular cause or having a heart attack.

Which story did you like the most? Kindly comment.

The series is to be continued……….