Cardiology

Quadpill trumps monotherapy in BP lowering

Combination therapy with olmesartan safe, effective in advanced hypertension

Stephen Padilla, 5 hours ago

Use of olmesartan in a combination therapy for advanced hypertension results in similar cardiovascular outcomes, including myocardial infarction (MI), relative to active comparators, according to a study. Additionally, there is no convincing evidence that olmesartan is harmful to patients with hypertension.

Semaglutide scores again, this time for HFpEF in obese

Elvira Manzano, Yesterday

Once weekly injection of semaglutide causes weight loss in obese patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), with positive shifts in symptoms and improvements in physical limitations in the STEP-HFpEF trial presented at ESC 2023.

Novel point-of-care troponin assay can rule out heart attack within 15 mins

High hs-cTnT levels predict 30-day mortality after cardiac surgery

2 days ago

Perioperative myocardial injury (PMI), as shown by perioperative high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) release, appears predictive of expected 30-day mortality, but not 5-year mortality, in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, reveals a recent study.

Impaired renal function ups cardiovascular risk in young adults

3 days ago

Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) below age-expected values appears to indicate an increased risk for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and MACE plus heart failure (MACE+) in young adults, according to a study.

Oral anticoagulant therapy for acute VTE in obese patients

Adjunct Assistant Prof. Pankaj Kumar Handa, 03 Apr 2023

Although direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are widely recommended for first-line treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE), their use in obese patients remains controversial due to the limited representation of such patients in clinical trials. As the prevalence of obesity continues its upward trend, clinicians increasingly have to make treatment decisions for obese patients. MIMS Doctor interviewed Adjunct Assistant Professor Pankaj Kumar Handa, Senior Consultant at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, to gain his perspectives on oral anticoagulation in obese patients.

EMPULSE trial confirms the efficacy and safety profile of empagliflozin in patients stabilized in hospital following acute heart failure

21 Mar 2023

Empagliflozin is the first SGLT-2i to significantly improve outcomes for patients with HF in any setting (in-hospital/outpatient), across the full spectrum of HF. Results from the EMPULSE trial showed that patients hospitalized for acute HF who were treated with empagliflozin following stabilization had 36% clinical benefit on the composite of mortality, HF events, and KCCQ-TSS improvement. The EMPULSE trial also provides a reassuring safety profile for empagliflozin that is consistent with previous trials.

NCDs in Focus Act Now! Summit 2022

16 Mar 2023

Viatris, a global healthcare company, collaborated with the Thai Hypertension Society and the Thai NCD Collaboration Group to organize the NCDs in Focus Act Now! Summit 2022 in Bangkok on October 29^th and 30^th. This summit brought together nearly 300 multidisciplinary experts from Southeast Asia and India to address the unmet needs in managing two critical noncommunicable diseases (NCDs): cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and mental health disorders (MHDs) in the region.

The summit had several key objectives. Firstly, it highlighted the effectiveness of clinical data in addressing gaps and unmet needs in clinical practice. Secondly, it emphasized the importance of sharing expertise and best practices through a platform that can optimize patient care. Additionally, it discussed the challenges of cardiovascular disease and mental health disorder care in a post COVID-19 world, and the need to re-examine them.

The summit also offered valuable insights into policy and practice changes, as well as innovative digital solutions that can lead to better outcomes. Lastly, it emphasized the significance of gaining a deeper understanding of the gaps in the patient journey to enhance patient care further.

Overall, the NCDs in Focus Act Now! Summit 2022 was a highly informative and productive event, with experts collaborating to improve the management of CVDs and MHDs in Southeast Asia and India.

Apixaban may be the DOAC of choice for AF patients at risk for GI bleeding

Dr. Teo Wee Siong, 21 Jan 2023

While current guidelines recommend using direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) over warfarin in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), there is a lack of head-to-head trial data to guide the choice of DOAC. Esteemed expert Dr Teo Wee Siong, Consultant Cardiologist & Cardiac Electrophysiologist from Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, Singapore, reviewed the latest data on the comparative effectiveness and safety of DOACs in AF, provided valuable insights on considerations for the selection of DOACs, and shared his clinical experience with apixaban (Eliquis, Pfizer).

Expert perspectives on diagnosis and monitoring of transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy in Asia

Dr. Chan Wan Xian, 02 Dec 2022

Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is a significantly underdiagnosed, life-threatening condition with a heterogeneous clinical presentation. Recently, clinical recommendations to diagnose and monitor ATTR-CM patients in Asia were published. Dr Chan Wan Xian, Cardiologist at the Asian Heart & Vascular Centre, Gleneagles Hospital, Mount Elizabeth Hospitals, and Parkway East Hospital, Singapore, reviews these guidelines and shares practical tips for diagnosing and assessing ATTR-CM patients.

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.

Early diagnosis and treatment of transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy significantly improves outcomes

Dr. Soon Chao Yang, 30 Aug 2022

Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is a significantly underdiagnosed, life-threatening disease caused by the deposition of transthyretin amyloid fibrils in the heart. Dr Soon Chao Yang, Interventional Cardiologist at The Heart Doctors Clinic in Mount Alvernia Hospital, Singapore, reviews the data on early treatment of ATTR-CM, and shares his clinical experience with tafamidis.

Semaglutide scores again, this time for HFpEF in obese

Elvira Manzano, 03 Oct 2023

OCT- vs angiography-guided PCI for bifurcation lesions: Which is better?

Audrey Abella, 22 Sep 2023

In percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for complex bifurcation lesions, optical coherence tomography (OCT) guidance outdid the angiography-guided approach, findings from the OCTOBER* trial have shown.

Extended anticoagulation benefits cancer patients with distal DVT

Audrey Abella, 20 Sep 2023

In cancer patients with isolated distal deep vein thrombosis (IDDVT), a 12-month anticoagulation regimen with the oral factor Xa inhibitor edoxaban fared better than a 3-month regimen, findings from the ONCO DVT study have shown.

Alirocumab reduces LDL-C in paediatric patients with heterozygous FH

Elaine Soliven, 20 Sep 2023

Alirocumab administered every 2 or 4 weeks (Q2W or Q4W dosing regimen) significantly reduced low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in paediatric patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (HeFH), according to a study presented at ESC 2023.

Catheter ablation boosts outcomes in patients with advanced HF

Elvira Manzano, 19 Sep 2023

Catheter ablation boosts outcomes in patients with advanced heart failure (HF) who are being considered for heart transplantation or left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation in the CASTLE-HTx trial presented at ESC 2023.

Extended clopidogrel monotherapy after DAPT reduces bleeding events in ‘bi-risk’ ACS patients

Elaine Soliven, 16 Sep 2023

Extended clopidogrel monotherapy after a 9- to 12-month course of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) reduces bleeding and ischaemic events in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who are at high risk for both events, according to the OPT-BIRISK* trial presented at ESC 2023.