Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Cardiology for August 2020. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Long-Term Follow-Up Reported for BP Telemonitoring Program
MONDAY, Aug. 31, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Among adults with uncontrolled blood pressure, fewer cardiovascular events and lower costs were observed at five years with a pharmacist-led telemonitoring program, but the differences were not statistically significant compared with usual care, according to a study published online Aug. 31 in Hypertension.
Mortality, Intubation Rates Lower With Anticoagulation in COVID-19
FRIDAY, Aug. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Among hospitalized patients with COVID-19, anticoagulation (AC) is associated with reduced mortality and intubation, according to a study published online Aug. 26 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Proportion of Deaths Due to Heart Failure, HTN Increasing
FRIDAY, Aug. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The proportion of deaths from heart disease attributed to heart failure and hypertensive heart disease is increasing, according to a study published online Aug. 13 in The BMJ.
Losing Weight Before Midlife Cuts Mortality Risk
FRIDAY, Aug. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Weight loss from obesity to overweight between early adulthood through midlife is associated with a lower risk for early death compared with maintaining obesity, according to a study published online Aug. 14 in JAMA Network Open.
Metabolic Syndrome Linked to Worse Outcomes in COVID-19
THURSDAY, Aug. 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with a lethal outcome for patients with COVID-19, according to a study published online Aug. 25 in Diabetes Care.
Admissions for Stroke, TIA Down Early in COVID-19 Pandemic
THURSDAY, Aug. 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Admissions for stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) have decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study published online Aug. 26 in Stroke and Vascular Neurology.
Blacks Have Higher Incidence of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Black Americans have a higher incidence of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) compared with other races, according to a study published online Aug. 26 in Neurology.
Exposure to Burning Wood Linked to Abnormal Cardiac Parameters
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Occupational exposures to burning wood, pesticides, and metals is associated with abnormal parameters of left and right ventricular systolic function, according to a study published online Aug. 26 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
AHA Details How to Lower Stroke Risk During, After Heart Surgery
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In a scientific statement issued by the American Heart Association and published online Aug. 26 in Circulation, recommendations are presented for reducing the risk for perioperative stroke in adults undergoing cardiac and thoracic aortic operations.
Preterm Delivery Ups Risk for Premature Mortality in Mothers
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Preterm delivery is associated with an increased risk for premature mortality in women, according to a study published online Aug. 19 in The BMJ.
Heart Events Observed for ~12 Percent of Adults Hospitalized With Flu
TUESDAY, Aug. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Among adults hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza, 11.7 percent have an acute cardiovascular event, according to a study published online Aug. 25 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Deaths Up for U.S. Veterans Who Have PCI at Community Facilities
TUESDAY, Aug. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For U.S. veterans with stable angina, the use of community facilities for percutaneous revascularization is associated with increased mortality, according to a study published in the Sept. 1 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Antihypertensive Agents Not Tied to Higher Risk for Depression
MONDAY, Aug. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Nine individual antihypertensive agents from the classes of angiotensin agents, calcium antagonists, and β-blockers are associated with reduced rates of depression, according to a study published online Aug. 24 in Hypertension.
RAAS Inhibitors May Benefit HTN Patients With COVID-19
MONDAY, Aug. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors are beneficial for hypertensive patients with COVID-19, according to a study published online Aug. 24 in Current Atherosclerosis Reports.
Feeling Dizzy Upon Standing May Point to Later Dementia
MONDAY, Aug. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Systolic orthostatic hypotension (OHYPO) and variability in visit-to-visit seated systolic blood pressure (BP) postural change are associated with greater dementia risk, according to a study published online July 20 in Neurology.
Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy, Menopause Symptoms Linked
FRIDAY, Aug. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There is an association between a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and more bothersome menopausal symptoms, according to a study published online Aug. 17 in Menopause.
Advisory Panel Rejects Nearly All Proposals for Fetal Tissue Research
THURSDAY, Aug. 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A Trump administration advisory board to evaluate scientific research involving fetal tissue says 13 of 14 proposals should be rejected.
The New York Times Article
Evinacumab Cuts LDL-C Level in Familial Hypercholesterolemia
THURSDAY, Aug. 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, evinacumab lowers low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, according to a study published in the Aug. 20 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Drug-Coated Balloon Angioplasty Better for Hemodialysis Fistulas
THURSDAY, Aug. 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For the treatment of stenotic lesions in dysfunctional hemodialysis arteriovenous fistulas, drug-coated balloon angioplasty is superior to standard angioplasty during the six months after the procedure, according to a study published in the Aug. 20 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Poll: More Older Adults Using Telehealth During Pandemic
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — More older adults have used telehealth to consult with a health care provider during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with that seen in the previous year, according to a report published online Aug. 17 based on the results of the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging.
Homelessness Tied to Higher Readmission Rates
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Homelessness is associated with significantly higher 30- and 90-day readmission rates even when adjusting for other demographic and clinical factors, according to a study recently published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
Combination Therapy May Benefit Some With Kawasaki Disease
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Adding corticosteroids to initial intravenous immunoglobulin seems beneficial for preventing coronary artery abnormalities in high-risk patients with Kawasaki disease (KD), according to a study published online Aug. 19 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Bariatric Surgery Linked to Reduction in Mortality Rate
TUESDAY, Aug. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Bariatric surgery is associated with a reduction in mortality, and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is effective for blood pressure (BP) control in patients with hypertension and obesity, according to two studies published online Aug. 18 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Abstract/Full Text – Doumouras (subscription or payment may be required)
Abstract/Full Text – Schiavon (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Higher BPA Exposure Linked to Increased Risk for All-Cause Mortality
TUESDAY, Aug. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Higher bisphenol A (BPA) exposure is associated with an increased risk for all-cause mortality in a nationally representative cohort of U.S. adults, according to a study published online Aug. 17 in JAMA Network Open.
Pitavastatin Effective for Lowering Lipids
MONDAY, Aug. 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Pitavastatin lowers blood total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides in a dose-dependent manner, according to a review recently published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
CV Risk Factors, Comorbidity Tied to COVID-19 CV Complications
MONDAY, Aug. 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients hospitalized with COVID-19, preexisting cardiovascular comorbidities or risk factors (RFs) are associated with cardiovascular complications, which contribute to mortality, according to a meta-analysis published online Aug. 14 in PLOS ONE.
Lean Mass Lower in Survivors of Pediatric Abdominal, Pelvic Tumors
FRIDAY, Aug. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Survivors of pediatric abdominal or pelvic tumors have lower lean mass in association with radiation doses and worse metabolic outcomes, according to a study published online Aug. 13 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
Return-to-School Recommendations Issued for Organ Transplant Recipients
FRIDAY, Aug. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients, the decision of whether to return to school should be a shared decision between families, transplant professionals, and educators, according to an expert opinion article published online Aug. 4 in the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society.
More Than One-Third of U.S. Children Consume Fast Food
FRIDAY, Aug. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — More than one-third of U.S. children and adolescents consumed fast food on a given day during 2015 to 2018, according to an August data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.
Exposure to Outdoor Air Pollution May Increase Risk for CVD
FRIDAY, Aug. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Long-term exposure to outdoor fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease in adults, regardless of country wealth, according to a study recently published in The Lancet Planetary Health.
Women Have More Depression With Peripheral Artery Disease
THURSDAY, Aug. 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Women with peripheral artery disease (PAD) have a higher burden of depressive symptoms compared with men, according to a study published online Aug. 12 in the Journal of the American Hospital Association.
In-Person Clinic Visits at VA Down by Half Early in Pandemic
THURSDAY, Aug. 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a 56 percent decline in in-person visits across Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) outpatient facilities, which is only partly offset by more than a twofold increase in the number of telephone and video visits, according to a research letter published online Aug. 10 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
CDC Updates Info on Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children
THURSDAY, Aug. 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — As of July 29, there have been a total of 570 U.S. cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), according to research published in the Aug. 7 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Pupil Area May Help Indicate Prognosis in Heart Failure
THURSDAY, Aug. 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Pupil area is an independent predictor of all-cause mortality and readmission due to heart failure, according to a study published online Aug. 10 in the European Journal of Heart Failure.
Burnout Less Likely for Doctors in Minority Race/Ethnic Groups
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Compared with non-Hispanic White physicians, physicians in minority racial/ethnic groups are less likely to report burnout, according to a study published online Aug. 7 in JAMA Network Open.
Bacterial Infections Increase Coronary Heart Disease Risk in T1DM
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Bacterial infections are associated with an increased risk for incident coronary heart disease (CHD) in individuals with type 1 diabetes, according to a study published online Aug. 4 in the Journal of Internal Medicine.
Guidelines Detail How to Manage Aneurysms of Visceral Arteries
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In evidence-based clinical practice guidelines, issued by the Society for Vascular Surgery and published in a supplement to the July issue of the Journal of Vascular Surgery, recommendations are presented for the care and treatment of aneurysms of the visceral arteries.
Self-Reported Biotin Use Increased From 1999 to 2016
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — From 1999 to 2016, the prevalence of self-reported biotin supplement use increased, especially among women and older adults, according to a research letter published in the Aug. 11 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Preventable Hospitalizations Up Among Those With Dementia
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The number of potentially preventable hospitalizations among older adults with dementia is increasing, according to a study published online July 23 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Guidance Helps Doctors Optimize Telemedicine for Seniors
TUESDAY, Aug. 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In an Ideas and Opinions article published online Aug. 11 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, guidance is provided for physicians to optimize telemedicine, which can be challenging for older patients.
Reproductive Factors Tied to Coronary Artery Disease
TUESDAY, Aug. 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Certain reproductive factors may up the risk for obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) in postmenopausal women, according to a study published online Aug. 3 in Menopause.
Some Occult Overdose Deaths Misclassified as Cardiac Arrests
TUESDAY, Aug. 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A considerable proportion of deaths attributed to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) are actually caused by occult overdose, according to a research letter published online Aug. 11 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Malnutrition Common in Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients
TUESDAY, Aug. 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) often have malnutrition, which is associated with increased risk for mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), according to a study published in the Aug. 18 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Persistent Opioid Use Seen in ~10 Percent of Patients After Cardiac Surgery
TUESDAY, Aug. 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Persistent opioid use is a common concern after cardiac surgery, according to a study published online June 17 in JAMA Cardiology.
Expanding Medicaid in Holdout States Could Insure 3.9 Million
MONDAY, Aug. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Expanding Medicaid to all states could reduce the number of uninsured by 28 percent based on pre-COVID-19 data, according to a report released by the Urban Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Mental Stress-Induced Brain Activation Linked to Angina
MONDAY, Aug. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Mental stress-induced inferior frontal lobe activation is associated with angina among patients with coronary artery disease, according to a study published online Aug. 10 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging.
Hospitalization Rates for AMI Dropped During Early COVID-19
MONDAY, Aug. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — During the early COVID-19 period, there was a decrease in hospitalization rates for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), according to a brief report published online Aug. 7 in JAMA Cardiology.
Almost One in Three Black Young Adults in U.S. Have Hypertension
FRIDAY, Aug. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Nearly one in three young non-Hispanic black adults and about one in five young Mexican-American and non-Hispanic white adults have hypertension, according to a study published in the July 1 issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
Life Expectancy 78.60 Years for U.S. Population for 2009-2011
FRIDAY, Aug. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Life expectancy for 2009 to 2011 was 78.60 years for the total U.S. population, with the highest life expectancy for Hispanic women, according to the Aug. 7 National Vital Statistics Reports, a publication from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
COVID-19 Tied to Higher Risk for Large Vessel Occlusion Strokes
FRIDAY, Aug. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — COVID-19 is associated with large vessel occlusion (LVO) strokes, according to a study published online July 29 in the American Journal of Roentgenology.
Telestroke Consultations Down During COVID-19 Pandemic
FRIDAY, Aug. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The median number of weekly consults seen through a telestroke network decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Black patients significantly less likely to present with strokes, according to a study published online Aug. 5 in Stroke.
CDC: More American Indian, Alaska Natives in Fair, Poor Health
THURSDAY, Aug. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) adults are more likely to be in fair or poor health than all U.S. adults, according to an August data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.
ED Visits Decreased in Five States From January Through April 2020
THURSDAY, Aug. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — As the COVID-19 pandemic intensified, there was a decrease in emergency department visits in five states from January through April 2020, according to a study published online Aug. 3 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
AHA: Cannabis May Have Adverse Cardiovascular Effects
THURSDAY, Aug. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Cannabis seems not to be associated with cardiovascular benefits but has adverse cardiovascular effects, according to a scientific statement from the American Heart Association published online Aug. 5 in Circulation.
Subcutaneous ICD Noninferior to Transvenous ICD
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with an indication for an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) but no indication for pacing, subcutaneous ICD is noninferior to transvenous ICD, according to a study published in the Aug. 6 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
CV Meds Underused in Hispanics With Peripheral Artery Disease
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Individuals of Hispanic/Latino background with known peripheral artery disease (PAD) have the lowest use of all classes of cardiovascular medications, according to a study published online Aug. 5 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Risk for Cardiovascular Disease Up for Women With PCOS
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to a research letter published online Aug. 2 in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
Improved Screenings by Ob-Gyns May Help Detect Heart Problems
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Many women seen in outpatient obstetrics-gynecology (ob-gyn) clinics are unaware of their own cardiovascular risk factors and symptoms, according to a study published online July 13 in the Journal of Women’s Health.
Health Plans Not Implementing Prior Authorization Reforms
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Physicians say prior authorization (PA) continues to interfere with patient care and can lead to adverse clinical consequences, according to the results of a survey released by the American Medical Association.
President Says Medicare Should Expand Telehealth Services
TUESDAY, Aug. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — President Donald Trump signed an order on Monday that will broaden the role of telehealth for Medicare patients, the Associated Press reported.
AP News Article
Most Studies Still Fail to Analyze Data by Sex
TUESDAY, Aug. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The effect of gender is still largely ignored in scientific studies, according to a study published online June 9 in eLife.
USPSTF Still Advises Against Carotid Artery Stenosis Screening
TUESDAY, Aug. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends against screening the general adult population for asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis. This recommendation forms the basis of a draft recommendation statement published online Aug. 4 by the USPSTF.
Draft Evidence Review
Draft Recommendation Statement
Comment on Recommendation Statement
AI-Enabled ECG Can Identify Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction
TUESDAY, Aug. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients presenting to the emergency department with dyspnea, an artificial intelligence-enabled electrocardiogram (AI-ECG) can identify left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD; defined as left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35 percent) with high accuracy, according to a study published online Aug. 4 in Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology.
Remote Weight-Loss Program Optimized to Cut Costs, Maximize Results
TUESDAY, Aug. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A new, remote weight-loss program from Northwestern Medicine, called Opt-IN, yields maximum weight loss for the lowest price and less burden compared with the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), the current gold standard of behavioral, nondrug weight-loss programs, according to a study published online July 12 in Obesity.
Cost-Related Rx Nonadherence Highest in Young U.S. Women
MONDAY, Aug. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Cost-related prescription nonadherence is highest among younger U.S. women compared with individuals living in 10 other high-income countries, according to a report published in the August issue of Health Affairs.
Risk for Acute Cerebrovascular Events Low in COVID-19 Patients
MONDAY, Aug. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For hospitalized COVID-19 patients, the risk for acute cerebrovascular events is low, according to a study published online July 20 in Stroke.
Mortality Risk Increased With Pulmonary Vascular Resistance of ≥2.2
MONDAY, Aug. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing right heart catheterization (RHC), the risks for mortality and heart failure are increased with a pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) of 2.2 Wood units or more, according to a study published online July 27 in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.
Cardiorespiratory Fitness Linked to Outcomes After A-Fib Ablation
MONDAY, Aug. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation, higher cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is associated with reduced arrhythmia recurrence rates and death, according to a study published online Aug. 3 in Heart Rhythm.
More Than One in Three Stroke Survivors Have Uncontrolled HTN
MONDAY, Aug. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — More than one-third of stroke survivors have uncontrolled hypertension, and about one in five are not taking antihypertensive medications, according to a study published online July 27 in JAMA Neurology.
38 Percent of Older Adults in U.S. Not Ready for Video Doctor Visits
MONDAY, Aug. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — An estimated 38 percent of all older adults in the United States are not ready for video visits with physicians, according to a research letter published online Aug. 3 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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