American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2018

Prescription fish oil on front burner after huge win in REDUCE-IT

Elvira Manzano, 20181130090000

In what many clinicians believed was a rare breakthrough, the prescription fish oil icosapent ethyl cut the risk of ischaemic events among statin-treated patients with high triglyceride levels and either cardiovascular disease (CVD) or diabetes in the REDUCE-IT* trial, putting fish oil on the front burner.

Rivaroxaban may reduce thromboembolic risk in HF patients

Audrey Abella, 20181128044323

Use of the oral anticoagulant rivaroxaban at a low dose may reduce the risk of thromboembolic events* in patients with heart failure (HF), according to a post hoc analysis of the COMMANDER HF** trial.

Treatment withdrawal not recommended after dilated cardiomyopathy recovery

Roshini Claire Anthony, 20181123140309

Individuals previously diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) who are considered recovered from their condition may still need to continue treatment, with a higher rate of relapse observed among patients who discontinued versus continued therapy, according to the TRED-HF* trial findings presented at AHA 2018.

Elevated gestational BP ups risk of low birthweight, impaired maternal health

Jairia Dela Cruz, 20181122110000

Rapid blood pressure (BP) elevations during the second trimester of pregnancy may pose an increased risk of delivering a low birthweight (LBW) infant, as well as contribute to impaired maternal liver, kidney and coagulation functions, according to a study presented at the 2018 American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions in Chicago, Illinois, US.

Initial endovascular therapy improves amputation-free survival in critical limb ischaemia patients

Tristan Manalac, 20181122080000

Initial treatment with endovascular therapy results in better amputation-free survival in patients with critical limb ischaemia compared with open surgical bypass, according to a study presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Session 2018 (AHA 2018), held in Chicago, Illinois.

Battle of stents: New-gen wins, but no added advantage with degradable polymers

Pearl Toh, 20181121163000

New-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) are superior to early-generation stents in reducing cardiovascular (CV) events and mortality out to 10 years, but there are no significant differences between new-generation stents based on biodegradable polymer and those with permanent polymer, according to the ISAR-TEST* 4 study presented at AHA 2018.

Bacterial pneumonia tied to higher MACE risk than viral pneumonia

Roshini Claire Anthony, 20181121140309

Individuals hospitalized with pneumonia have an elevated risk of developing major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), with a greater risk among those with bacterial compared with viral pneumonia, according to a recent study presented at AHA 2018.

Fast food may up risk of asthma and other allergies

Food insecurity linked to hypertension in kids

Stephen Padilla, 20181121120000

Food insecurity (FI) is associated with risk of hypertension in a large, nationally representative cohort of children and adolescents in the US, independent of obesity, according to a study presented at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2018.

Meeting ideal levels of CV health reduces risk of T2D in patients with normal fasting glucose

Stephen Padilla, 20181121120000

Higher ideal levels of dietary intake, physical activity, smoking, blood pressure (BP), cholesterol and body mass index (BMI) are associated with a dose-dependent lower risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) for individuals with normal fasting glucose but not impaired fasting glucose, according to a study presented at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2018.

HemosIL ThromboPath assay an economical, sensitive option for venous thromboembolism screening

Tristan Manalac, 20181121100000

The HemosIL ThromboPath assay is highly sensitive to abnormalities in the protein C (PC) pathway in unselected patients, according to a new study presented at the recent American Heart Association Scientific Session 2018 (AHA 2018), held in Chicago, Illinois.