2018 highlights: Prevention takes center stage

As an exciting year in cardiology winds down, Healio Cardiology presents a recap of the top news from 2018.

Here you’ll find a list of the 18 most-read articles on Healio Cardiology in 2018, in chronological order. Several themes emerged. For one, there is great interest in CV prevention, from wearable technologies to vitamins and supplements for CV prevention to optimal diets and physical activity. This list also highlights some of the top research presented at major cardiology conferences, including the ARRIVE, REDUCE-IT and PIONEER-HF trials, among others.

Read on and weigh in by commenting on this article or emailing the Editors at cardiology@healio.com.

Social factors major determinant of stroke, CVD risk

Various socioeconomic determinants predispose patients to developing CVD and stroke, especially in the United States, according to a presentation at the International Stroke Conference. Read more

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

Patients with type 2 diabetes who were treated with SGLT2 inhibitors had a lower risk for HF hospitalization, death, stroke and MI compared with those who were treated with other glucose-lowering drugs. Read more

Review: No reason to use ACE inhibitors for hypertension

In a review published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, four experts stated there is no reason to use ACE inhibitors to treat hypertension when angiotensin receptor blockers can be used instead. Read more

Beta-blockers safe for pregnant women

In a retrospective, population-based study, beta-blocker exposure during pregnancy was not found to increase risk for fetal cardiac anomalies. Read more

Plant-based diets reduce CV risk

Kim Allan Williams Sr., MD, MACC, FAHA, MASNC, of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, outlined the benefits of a plant-based diet for reducing risk for CV-related events and mortality during a presentation at the National Lipid Association Scientific Sessions in April. Read more

Protein intake may increase HF risk in men

Among middle-aged men who followed a diet with high protein intake, researchers reported a trend toward increased risk for HF. Read more

Vitamins, supplements provide little to no CV health benefit

Most popular vitamins and mineral supplements provide little benefit to CV health, according to a review article published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Read more

COMPASS: Low-dose rivaroxaban plus aspirin may benefit patients with chronic CAD, PAD, HF

Patients with chronic CAD and peripheral artery disease with or without HF who were treated with low-dose rivaroxaban (Xarelto, Janssen/Bayer) plus aspirin had reduced rates of major adverse CV events and showed a net clinical benefit compared with those treated with aspirin alone, according to a subanalysis of the COMPASS trial presented at Heart Failure 2018 & World Congress on Acute Heart Failure. Read more

New technologies to treat arrhythmias unveiled at HRS

Data relating to numerous new technologies providing new solutions for patients with arrhythmia disorders were unveiled at the Heart Rhythm Society Annual Scientific Sessions. Among the technologies featured were an algorithm to promote atrioventricular synchronous pacing with a ventricular leadless pacemaker, an extravascular implantable cardioverter defibrillator lead and an intramural needle ablation technology to treat refractory ventricular arrhythmias, among others. Read more

AHA: Diverse diets not necessarily healthy

Encouraging people to eat a variety of foods may have the unintended consequence of consumption of more unhealthy foods, according to a science advisory from the American Heart Association. Read more

TRANSITION: Sacubitril/valsartan feasible as in-hospital HF treatment

Sacubitril/valsartan (Entresto, Novartis) was safe and effective in patients stabilized after hospitalization for acute HF regardless of whether they received it in-hospital or after discharge, according to results of the TRANSITION study presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress. Read more

ARRIVE: Aspirin does not reduce initial vascular events in low-to-moderate risk population

In a moderate-risk population of 12,546 patients with low CV event rates, aspirin did not significantly reduce initial vascular events, according to the ARRIVE study presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress. Among patients randomly assigned to receive enteric-coated aspirin (Bayer) 100 mg daily or placebo, the primary efficacy endpoint of time to first occurrence of CV death, MI, unstable angina, stroke or transient ischemic attack occurred in 4.29% of the aspirin group vs. 4.48% of the placebo group. Read more

PURE: Moderate red meat, dairy intake may help reduce mortality, CV risk

A new diet quality tool based on an analysis of more than 218,000 adults worldwide suggests that increased intake of unprocessed red meat, fish and whole fat dairy can reduce risk for all-cause mortality, MI and stroke, according to new data from the PURE study presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress. Read more

Cardiologists react to new Apple Watch ECG capabilities

Apple announced in September that the redesigned Apple Watch Series 4 will feature an electrical heart rate sensor that can take an electrocardiogram using a new ECG app. Cardiology Today spoke with leaders in the field about the impact of this new technology and how it may be used in clinical practice. One doctor called it a “game changer.” Read more

Physical inactivity major risk factor for mortality, CVD

Physical activity contributes to cardiorespiratory health and reduced risk for CVD, making physical inactivity one of the leading modifiable risk factors, according to a review published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Read more

DECLARE-TIMI 58: Dapagliflozin reduces HF hospitalization in type 2 diabetes

The DECLARE-TIMI 58 trial of dapagliflozin (Farxiga, AstraZeneca) in patients with type 2 diabetes who had or were at high risk for atherosclerotic CVD adds to the growing body of evidence demonstrating the favorable effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on CV risk. Read more

REDUCE-IT: Icosapent ethyl reduces ischemic events in high-risk patients

In patients with elevated triglycerides at high CV risk despite statin therapy, prescription-grade icosapent ethyl (Vascepa, Amarin) was superior to placebo for reducing risk for ischemic events, according to results of the REDUCE-IT trial. Read more

PIONEER-HF: Sacubitril/valsartan superior to enalapril in acute decompensated HF

Patients with acute decompensated HF had greater reduction in N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide when assigned sacubitril/valsartan than treatment with enalapril, according to the results of the PIONEER-HF trial presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions. Read more