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Top news of September: Losartan recalls, dapagliflozin in HF and more
Healio and Cardiology Today compiled a list of the most-viewed cardiology posts in September. This month, our readers were interested in recalls of losartan due to impurities, the DAPA-HF and DEFINE-HF studies showing benefit of dapagliflozin (Farxiga, AstraZeneca) in patients with HF regardless of diabetes status, the effect of a salt substitution regimen on hypertension and much more.
Recalls expand for losartan due to impurities
Torrent Pharmaceuticals is the most recent company to update its voluntary recall of losartan potassium tablets due to trace amounts of impurities found in an active pharmaceutical ingredient. Other companies that have also recalled several lots of their products include Macleods Pharmaceuticals, Camber Pharmaceuticals, Legacy Pharmaceuticals Packaging, Teva Pharmaceuticals and Vivimed Life Sciences voluntarily recalled losartan potassium tablets because of trace amounts of impurities found in an active pharmaceutical ingredient, the FDA and the companies announced.
DAPA-HF: Dapagliflozin offers new approach to treatment of HFrEF, even without diabetes
PARIS — In patients with HF, with and without diabetes, treatment with the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin reduced risk for worsening HF and CV death when added to standard therapy, according to anticipated results of the DAPA-HF trial.
Salt substitute reduced hypertension incidence by 55% in Peru
PARIS — A pragmatic population-wide salt substitute strategy implemented in Peru contributed to reductions in both systolic and diastolic BP, especially in participants who were high risk, according to results from a study presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress.
Updated ESC guidelines offer new recommendations on lipids, diabetes and more
PARIS — The European Society of Cardiology released five new guidelines, which introduce fresh recommendations such as an LDL goal of less than 55 mg/dL in patients at very high risk for CVD and the use of SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists as first-line therapy in patients with diabetes requiring CVD prevention.
DEFINE-HF: Dapagliflozin improves HF-related health regardless of diabetes status
PHILADELPHIA — In patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction with or without diabetes, the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin was associated with clinically meaningful improvements in HF-related health status or N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide at 12 weeks, according to results of the DEFINE-HF trial presented at the Heart Failure Society of America Scientific Meeting.
PARAGON-HF: Sacubitril/valsartan misses primary endpoint for HFpEF; may still provide insight into unmet need
PARIS — Sacubitril/valsartan did not reduce the rate of hospitalizations for CV-related death and HF in patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction, defined as at least 45%, according to a hot line trial presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress.
New research, recent controversies question vitamin D benefits in CVD
The harshest critics contend supplementation with vitamin D is worthless in terms of CV and other benefits. Still, a deeper dive into the VITAL results, as well as other research conducted in adults with specific cancers, reveals a signal for benefits with vitamin D for certain subsets of patients. For many researchers, the real benefit of vitamin D remains an open question.
Fluoroquinolones pose risk for aortic, mitral regurgitation
Current and recent use of fluoroquinolones, but not past use, were associated with elevated risk for aortic and mitral regurgitation, researchers reported.
Rivaroxaban monotherapy noninferior to combo therapy for AF, stable CAD
PARIS — In the AFIRE trial, rivaroxaban monotherapy was noninferior to rivaroxaban plus an antiplatelet agent with respect to CV events and death from any cause, and was superior for major bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation and stable CAD.
Evolocumab shows benefit for high-risk ACS: EVOPACS
PARIS — In the first randomized trial designed to assess a PCSK9 inhibitor in patients with ACS, the addition of evolocumab to statin therapy was well tolerated and substantially reduced LDL levels, with a majority of patients within currently recommended target levels following treatment.