Cardiology

130/80 home BP equivalent to clinic BP for stage 1 hypertension

Add-on bevacizumab ups hypertension risk in CRC patients

Stephen Padilla, 3 days ago

The addition of bevacizumab (BVZ) to the standard regimen for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) appears to increase the risk of cardiovascular events, suggest the results of a meta-analysis presented at the recent ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium (ASCO GI 2023).

Saroglitazar may lower cardiovascular risk in NAFLD

3 days ago

Treatment with the dual PPAR α/γ agonist saroglitazar helps improve the serum atherogenic lipoprotein profile in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), regardless of comorbid conditions and statin use, as shown in a study.

Exercise-based intervention tied to reduced AF recurrence, symptom severity

Elaine Soliven, 5 days ago

A six-month intervention with supervised exercise and home-based physical activity was associated with reduced atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence and symptom severity among patients with symptomatic AF, according to the ACTIVE-AF* trial.

Original New Drug Application Approvals by US FDA (16-31 January 2023)

31 Jan 2023

New drug applications approved by US FDA as of 16-31 January 2023 which includes New Molecular Entities (NMEs) and new biologics. It does not include Tentative Approvals. Supplemental approvals may have occurred since the original approval date.

Dapagliflozin DELIVERs across full HF spectrum regardless of LVEF

Elvira Manzano, 04 Oct 2022

The selective, oral sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor dapagliflozin reduces the risk of cardiovascular (CV) death or worsening heart failure (HF) in patients with HF and mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction (HFmrEF or HFpEF) in the phase III DELIVER* trial, touted as the largest and most inclusive thus far in this patient group.

$Empagliflozin: A new dawn for heart failure treatment across the ejection fraction spectrum$

Empagliflozin: A new dawn for heart failure treatment across the ejection fraction spectrum

06 Jun 2022

Initially approved to improve glycaemic control and reduce cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D), the SGLT-2* inhibitor empagliflozin reduced hospitalization for heart failure (HFH) or cardiovascular death and delayed renal function decline when added to recommended therapy in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in the EMPEROR-Reduced** trial. The EMPEROR-Preserved** trial has now shown that the benefits of empagliflozin extend to patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Early and consistent: Breakthrough results in HFpEF similar to HFrEF

14 Jan 2022

HFpEF represents a significant unmet need in CV medicine due to its prevalence, poor prognosis, and the absence of clinically proven therapeutic options. The EMPEROR-Preserved trial demonstrated the continuous clinical benefits in cardiorenal outcomes of empagliflozin in adults with HFpEF, which were consistent with the observations in adults with HFmrEF/ HFpEF in the EMPEROR-reduced trial. The combined results of the EMPEROR trials establish empagliflozin’s efficacy in heart failure regardless of ejection fraction – and if approved, empagliflozin would become the first and only clinically proven therapy to improve outcomes for the full spectrum of the disease. Therefore, empagliflozin offers a new hope for people living with heart failure.

EMPEROR-Preserved: The first successful trial to improve outcomes in HFpEF

18 Nov 2021

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) represents a significant unmet medical need. The EMPEROR-Preserved trial aimed to assess the impact of empagliflozin on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with HFpEF. On 27 August 2021, during the hotline session of the 2021 ESC Virtual Congress, the main results of the EMPEROR-Preserved trial were presented by Professor Stefan Anker, principal investigator of the study, and heart failure specialist at Charité Berlin, Germany.

Pemafibrate reduces triglycerides, but not CV events, in patients with T2D, hypertriglyceridemia

Roshini Claire Anthony, 23 Dec 2022

Despite reducing triglyceride levels, pemafibrate does not reduce the risk of cardiovascular (CV) events among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and hypertriglyceridemia, according to results of the PROMINENT trial presented at AHA 2022.

HF meds rapid up-titration reduces readmission, mortality after acute HF hospitalization

Roshini Claire Anthony, 21 Dec 2022

Rapidly maximizing medications in patients discharged from hospital following acute heart failure (AHF) reduced the risk of hospital readmission or death at 180 days, according to results of the STRONG-HF* trial presented at AHA 2022.

Rapid IV sotalol loading feasible, safe for AF patients

Audrey Abella, 18 Dec 2022

IV sotalol administered rapidly as a loading dose to initiate oral sotalol therapy is feasible and safe for rhythm control in individuals with atrial fibrillation (AF), the DASH-AF study finds.

Stopping RAS inhibitors does not slow eGFR decline in advanced CKD

Roshini Claire Anthony, 16 Dec 2022

In patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), discontinuing renin–angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitor therapy does not slow down decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), a recent trial showed.

Do supplements measure up to statins for lipid-lowering?

Audrey Abella, 13 Dec 2022

In individuals with increased 10-year risk for ASCVD*, rosuvastatin 5 mg significantly reduced LDL-C** and other lipid and inflammatory biomarkers compared with placebo and six widely used heart health supplements, results from the SPORT*** trial have shown.

Low-dose polypill: Another step forward in hypertension management?

Roshini Claire Anthony, 12 Dec 2022

A polypill comprising ultra-low doses of four antihypertensive drugs shows promise in reducing blood pressure (BP) levels compared with standard monotherapy, according to a small study presented at AHA 2022.

CV benefits of dapagliflozin evident regardless of baseline kidney function

Roshini Claire Anthony, 11 Dec 2022

The cardiovascular (CV) benefit of dapagliflozin in patients with heart failure with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction (HFmrEF/HFpEF) is evident regardless of baseline kidney function, according to an analysis of the DELIVER* trial presented at Kidney Week 2022.