Cardiovascular

Research Highlights:

• A large, national study found that smokers faced nearly three times the risk of dying prematurely from heart disease or stroke.
• Risk was higher among smokers who began before age 15 compared to those who began at older ages, and the risk […]
  

Statement Highlights:

• Critically ill heart patients are at increased risk of complications that are potentially preventable and associated with death, longer hospital stays and higher costs.
• Best practices to prevent complications include meticulous hand hygiene among the health care team, prompt removal of invasive […]
  

Research Highlights:

• Nighttime blood pressure levels that are higher than daytime levels, as well as a pattern of blood pressure rising at night (rather than decreasing slightly), were associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease and heart failure.
• Even when blood pressure is well […]
  

Research Highlights:

• Memory, concentration and other cognitive functions decline faster among middle-aged and older adults who have high blood pressure than those who do not.  
• Even seemingly slight blood pressure elevation during middle and older age is linked to a faster decline in […]
  

DALLAS, Dec. 14, 2020 — Despite most of the medical research community refocusing their work on the COVID-19 pandemic crisis and other studies getting delayed as labs closed to avoid spreading the disease, several significant key developments in the fight against heart […]

Research Highlights:

• Significant racial disparities exist in heart-related complications among pregnant and postpartum women in the United States.
• Despite improvements in recent years, Black women have the highest risk of pregnancy-related heart problems.
• Clinicians treating pregnant women should be aware of the heart risks associated […]
  

Statement Highlights:

• Updated clinical guideline for patients with valvular heart disease recommends less invasive interventions, when possible, and patient involvement in treatment considerations.
• Patients with more severe valvular heart disease should be evaluated by a specialized team working with a primary or comprehensive valve […]
  

Research Highlights:

• People living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have impaired blood vessel function, which increases risk of heart and blood vessel-disease.
• The increased heart disease risk is especially pronounced in people with HIV who also have kidney disease.
• The increased heart disease risk remains […]
  

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2, 2020 — Heart failure is a major and growing public health problem in the United States with significant morbidity, mortality and associated cost. The writing committee for this 2020 document developed a new measure set to evaluate the care in […]

DALLAS, November 11, 2020 —Aortic stenosis is one of the most common and serious valve disease problems affecting about five percent of Americans age 65 or older[1]. Left untreated, it can lead to heart failure and increased risk of death. However, there are many patients that […]