Cardiology Today's top 10 articles from AHA 2017

The American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, which took place in Anaheim from Nov. 11 to Nov. 15, featured numerous groundbreaking presentations including the unveiling of the new AHA/American College of Cardiology hypertension guidelines, 33 late-breaking clinical trials and more.

Cardiology Today has compiled a list of the top 10 most viewed articles presented at this year’s sessions.

New guidelines broaden definition of hypertension

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Hypertension is now defined as systolic BP 130 mm Hg/diastolic BP 80 mm Hg, which will lead to a new diagnosis in approximately 14% more Americans, according to newly released, long-awaited guidelines published by the AHA, the American College of Cardiology and nine other societies.

The guidelines lower the threshold for hypertension from systolic BP 140 mm Hg/diastolic BP 90 mm Hg, and eliminate the category of prehypertension.

Sodium, coconut oil, sugar intake affects CVD risk

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Coconut oil, sodium and added sugars contribute to an increased risk for CVD, according to presentations at AHA Scientific Sessions.

Technology and health care: The future is bright

ANAHEIM, Calif. — A new era of health care innovation is here, with novel technologies aimed to improve the lives of patients and physicians alike, from mobile technologies to intelligent care.

Since advancements were made during the “communication revolution,” a host of new technologies are evolving every day and improving the daily lives of the average individual. Health care is finally catching up to the rest of the world, with regard to technological advancements, according to health care experts speaking at the AHA Scientific Sessions.

BRUISE CONTROL-2: Device pocket hematoma risk low for any anticoagulation strategy during surgery

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Rates of device pocket hematoma were similarly low among patients who had continuation or interruption of direct oral anticoagulant therapy during surgery, according to results of the BRUISE CONTROL-2 trial presented at the AHA Scientific Sessions.

According to the presentation from David H. Birnie, MD, staff cardiac electrophysiologist and director of the arrhythmia service at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, oral anticoagulant use is common among patients who require a pacemaker or defibrillator surgery.

TRICS III: Restrictive blood transfusion strategy safe for cardiac surgery

ANAHEIM, Calif. — A restrictive strategy for red blood cell transfusion was noninferior to a more liberal strategy for mortality and major morbidity in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, according to data from the TRICS III trial.

The randomized, multicenter, open-label, noninferiority trial included 5,243 patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass who had moderate to high risk for mortality (EuroSCORE I 6). All patients were randomly assigned to a restrictive red-cell transfusion strategy if hemoglobin was < 7.5 g/dL in the intraoperative or postoperative period or to a liberal strategy if hemoglobin was < 9.5 g/dL in the intraoperative or postoperative period in the ICU, or < 8.5 g/dL in the non-ICU ward.

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DACAB: Ticagrelor plus aspirin improves saphenous vein graft patency at 1 year post-CABG

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Patients undergoing CABG who received dual antiplatelet therapy consisting of ticagrelor plus aspirin had improved saphenous vein graft patency at 1 year compared with aspirin monotherapy, without excess risk for major bleeding, according to the DACAB trial results.

In the intention-to-treat analysis, results at 1 year highlighted a 12.2% difference in rates of patency between the ticagrelor-plus-aspirin group and the aspirin-alone group (88.7% vs. 76.5%; P = .006). Additionally, the researchers found a 6.3% difference in the rate of patency favoring ticagrelor alone over aspirin alone (82.8% vs. 76.5%; P = .0962).

Men more likely than women to receive bystander CPR

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Men are more likely to receive bystander CPR in public locations than women and had increased survival after the lifesaving measure, according to research presented at the AHA Scientific Sessions.

High-dose pitavastatin benefits Japanese population with CAD

ANAHEIM, Calif. — High-dose pitavastatin, compared with a low dose, significantly reduced CV events and was well-tolerated in Japanese adults with stable CAD enrolled in the REAL-CAD study.

The prospective, randomized, open-label trial included 13,054 patients who received pitavastatin (Livalo, Kowa Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.) 1 mg per day for an initial run-in period of at least 1 month, followed by random assignment to the continued daily 1-mg dose or a 4-mg dose. Median follow-up duration was 3.9 years in both groups.

HOPE-Duchenne: Cell therapy shows promise for treating Duchenne cardiomyopathy

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Cardiosphere-derived cells to treat patients with cardiomyopathy caused by Duchenne muscular dystrophy was safe and well-tolerated, according to data presented at AHA Scientific Sessions.

Ronald G. Victor, MD, director of the Hypertension Center, associate director of the Heart Institute for Translational Research, professor of medicine and Burns and Allen Chair in Cardiology Research at Cedars-Sinai, and colleagues analyzed data from 25 patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy aged 12 to 22 years on a stable steroid regimen, left ventricular scar in greater than four segments and an LV ejection fraction greater than 35%.

Burnout common in cardiologists, especially women

ANAHEIM, Calif. — In a recent survey, more than one-quarter of U.S. cardiologists reported burnout, with burnout being 29% likely among women, researchers reported at the AHA Scientific Sessions.

The data come from the ACC’s 2015 Professional Life Survey. Laxmi Mehta, MD, FACC, FAHA, and colleagues compared responses to the validated “Mini Z” burnout assessment with broader questions about career satisfaction and family responsibilities.