Cardiology Today's top articles in March

Cardiology Today compiled a list of the top 5 stories posted to Healio.com/Cardiology in March.

This month, readers were most interested in the link between preeclampsia and CV risk, statin discontinuation in high-risk patients, the benefits of plant-based diets, the results of the ODYSSEY Outcomes trial, the results of the CVD-REAL 2 trial and much more.

Preeclampsia, lactation duration affect CV risk in women

ORLANDO, Fla. — Two new studies presented at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Session highlight differences in CV risk related to preeclampsia history and lactation duration.

The data in women highlight a need for increased awareness and research on women during pregnancy and postpartum.

Statin discontinuation common in high-risk patients

ORLANDO, Fla. — A perceived lack of need is a major reason why patients with elevated CVD risk discontinue statin therapy, according to data presented at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Session.

In a new study, most high-risk patients who discontinued statins refused to resume therapy, according to the researchers.

VIDEO: Plant-based diets decrease CV risk

ORLANDO, Fla. — In this Cardiology Today video exclusive, Kim Allan Williams Sr., MD, professor of cardiovascular disease at Rush University Medical Center, past president of the American College of Cardiology and a Cardiology Today Editorial Board member, discusses the benefits of plant-based diets for CV health.

While heart disease has been the leading cause of death of Americans for a century, adopting a plant-based diet and eliminating red, processed meat may prevent obesity, diabetes, hypertension, CAD, stroke and early mortality, Williams said.

ODYSSEY Outcomes: Alirocumab lowers CV events in ACS population

ORLANDO, Fla. — Reducing LDL to very low levels with the PCSK9 inhibitor alirocumab lowered risk for major adverse CV events and all-cause mortality in patients with ACS on statin therapy, according to anticipated results of the ODYSSEY Outcomes trial presented as a late-breaking clinical trial at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Session.

For the primary outcome of major adverse CV events, defined as CHD death, nonfatal MI, ischemic stroke or unstable angina requiring hospitalization, alirocumab (Praluent, Sanofi/Regeneron) conferred a 15% risk reduction compared with placebo (HR = 0.85; 95% CI, 0.78-0.93; absolute risk reduction = 1.6%). All 18,924 patients (mean age, 58 years; 25% women) were followed for at least 2 years, with 44% followed for at least 3 years (median, 2.8 years).

CVD-REAL 2: SGLT2 inhibitors associated with lower risk for CV events, death in type 2 diabetes

ORLANDO, Fla. — Patients with type 2 diabetes who were treated with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors had a lower risk for HF hospitalization, death, stroke and MI compared with those who were treated with other glucose-lowering drugs, according to data from featured clinical research presented at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Session.

“The directionality of associations was generally consistent across countries, and results were stable in multiple sensitivity analyses and across patient subgroups,” Mikhail Kosiborod, MD, cardiologist at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute and professor of medicine at University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, said during the presentation.