American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2021

No reduction in COVID-19 hospitalization, death with icosapent ethyl

Roshini Claire Anthony, 20220104180001

Treatment with icosapent ethyl did not reduce the rate of hospitalization or mortality among patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, according to results of the PREPARE IT-2* trial presented at AHA 2021.

Coffee good – or bad – for the heart

Elvira Manzano, 20211220000000

Daily coffee intake is tied to increased physical activity and incidence of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) but fewer episodes of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and less nighttime sleep in the CRAVE* trial.

Dabigatran or warfarin: Choice does not matter in GIRAF

Elvira Manzano, 20211216000000

The choice of oral anticoagulant does not appear to influence the outcome in terms of preserving cognitive function in older patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), the GIRAF* study has shown.

No penalty to early CABG after stopping ticagrelor

Pearl Toh, 20211211130100

Undergoing CABG* within 2 to 3 days after stopping the antiplatelet ticagrelor does not increase the risk of severe/massive bleeding compared with delaying surgery until 5 to 7 days of ticagrelor discontinuation in patients with ACS**, according to the RAPID CABG *** study presented at AHA 2021.

Low-dose aspirin does not stave off dementia

Roshini Claire Anthony, 20211210180001

A daily 100 mg dose of aspirin for 7 years did not reduce the risk of dementia in individuals with diabetes and no history of cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to results of the ASCEND* study presented at AHA 2021.

Evinacumab reduces LDL-C levels in homozygous FH

Elaine Soliven, 20211209000000

Treatment with evinacumab, an angiopoietin-like protein 3 (ANGPTL3) inhibitor, reduces low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in adolescents and adults with homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH), according to a study presented at AHA 2021.

Empagliflozin beneficial and well tolerated in acute heart failure

Christina Lau, 20211206000000

Empagliflozin provides a significant clinical benefit within 90 days and shows no safety concerns in patients hospitalized for acute heart failure (HF), according to results of the EMPULSE trial reported at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2021.

Canagliflozin improves HF symptoms, QoL regardless of diabetes status

Pearl Toh, 20211204150000

The SGLT2i* canagliflozin significantly improves symptoms and quality of life (QoL) early on during treatment in people with heart failure (HF) due to either reduced or preserved ejection fraction (rEF or pEF), regardless of whether they have type 2 diabetes (T2D), according to the CHIEF-HF** study presented at AHA 2021.

Inclisiran sustains LDL-C reduction in high-risk patients with ASCVD

Elaine Soliven, 20211203000000

Treatment with inclisiran consistently reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in patients with, or at high risk of, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), regardless of glycaemic status, based on a pooled analysis of the ORION-10* and ORION-11** studies presented at AHA 2021.

Milvexian prevents VTE after knee arthroplasty, bleeding risk low

Roshini Claire Anthony, 20211202180001

Postoperative treatment with the oral factor XIa inhibitor milvexian could help prevent the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients undergoing elective knee arthroplasty, according to results of a phase II trial presented at AHA 2021.