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Top cardiology news from May: Mediterranean diet, low-risk TAVR trials and more
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Cardiology Today compiled the most-read articles on Healio.com/Cardiology in May. This month, our readers were interested in adapting the Mediterranean diet, the implications of the successful trials of transcatheter aortic valve replacement in low-risk patients, the LDL-lowering capabilities of inclisiran and more.
Components of Mediterranean diet can be individualized for goal attainment
MIAMI — The benefits of a Mediterranean diet have been shown in numerous studies, but more work must be done for patients to adopt it, according to a presentation at the National Lipid Association Scientific Sessions.
A ‘win’ for TAVR signals paradigm shift in treatment of aortic stenosis
Presentation of the PARTNER 3 and Evolut Low Risk trials at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Session in March were met with a standing ovation and applause, high praise from legends in the field and the overwhelming sense that transcatheter aortic valve replacement may soon replace surgical AVR as the treatment of choice for patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis.
ORION-3: Inclisiran safely reduces LDL by more than 50%
MIAMI — Inclisiran injections administered twice per year safely reduced LDL by at least 50% out to 3 years, according to a late-breaking clinical trial presented at the National Lipid Association Scientific Sessions.
Will an aspirin a day keep MI away? New evidence, recommendations from the ACC/AHA
The use of aspirin for primary prevention became a hot topic after the publication of three landmark trials in 2018, which clarified the role of low-dose aspirin in primary CVD prevention. Although the European CVD prevention guidelines have drawn a line in the sand — not recommending aspirin in patients without CVD since 2016 — the U.S. guidelines have historically recommended use of aspirin based on CVD risk assessment. However, with the new publication of the 2019 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Guidelines on Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, simultaneously published and presented at the ACC Scientific Session in March, did the U.S. decide to follow the more stringent recommendations of the European guidelines?
His-SYNC: His bundle pacing not superior to biventricular pacing in cardiac resynchronization therapy
SAN FRANCISCO — His bundle pacing as first-line therapy did not improve ECG or echocardiographic parameters compared with biventricular pacing in patients with HF requiring cardiac resynchronization therapy, according to the His-SYNC trial presented at the Heart Rhythm Society Annual Scientific Sessions.
TREAT-AF: Vagus nerve stimulation reduces AF burden
SAN FRANCISCO — Transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve reduced atrial fibrillation burden compared with a sham procedure, researchers from the TREAT-AF study reported.
A new era for TAVR
Experts agreed that trials of TAVR in low-risk patients will be enormously influential and will change how physicians approach treatment of aortic stenosis, with the caveat that there will always be a place for surgery.
Dabigatran not superior to aspirin for prevention of recurrent stroke
There was no significant difference between dabigatran and aspirin in preventing recurrent stroke in patients with an embolic stroke of undetermined source, according to findings published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
Treatments for cardiomyopathy from transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis approved by FDA
The FDA approved two treatments for patients with cardiomyopathy associated with transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis. Tafamidis meglumine (Vyndaqel, FoldRx/Pfizer) and tafamidis (Vyndamax, FoldRx/Pfizer) are the first treatments for transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis that were approved by the FDA, according to a press release from the agency.
Exercise should be emphasized in patients with dyslipidemia
MIAMI — Given all of the recent guidelines on physical activity and CVD prevention, health care providers should focus on recommending exercise for patients with dyslipidemia to decrease their LDL, according to a presentation at the National Lipid Association Scientific Sessions.