Top cardiology news of September: CV health and COVID-19, intermittent fasting and more

Healio and Cardiology Today have curated a list of the most-read cardiology news of September.

Readers were most interested in potential impact of COVID-19 on the heart, intermittent fasting and cardiac health, trends in BP control in the U.S. and more.

Short-term COVID-19 treatment with hydroxychloroquine may not confer arrhythmia risk

Hydroxychloroquine may be safe for the short-term treatment of patients with COVID-19 who were chosen for therapy after undergoing risk assessment, researchers found. Read more

Assessing for myocarditis may clarify whether athletes can return to sports after COVID-19

Cardiac MRI may help assess risk for myocarditis in athletes recovering from COVID-19 to determine whether it is safe to participate in competitive sports, researchers found. Read more

Ketogenic, intermittent fasting diets may be heart-healthy

There is modest evidence that the ketogenic and intermittent fasting diets may have favorable CV effects, according to a review published in the American Journal of Medicine. Read more

BP control in US dropped more than 11% from 2013 to 2018

Between 2013 and 2018, the number of patients with hypertension who had their BP under control dropped more than 11%, researchers reported. Read more

Hostility may predict mortality in ACS

Hostility may increase mortality risk in patients with ACS, although it may not affect the risk for recurrent ACS, researchers found. Read more

Smartwatch app to detect AF receives FDA clearance

Fitbit announced that an ECG app to identify atrial fibrillation through its smartwatch has received 510(k) clearance from the FDA. Read more

Degree of alcohol intake corresponds to hypertension risk in diabetes

Moderate and heavy alcohol consumption were linked with hypertension in patients with type 2 diabetes and elevated CV risk, researchers found. Read more

Resuming sexual activity shortly after MI could improve survival

Patients who resumed sexual activity a few months after MI may have an improved long-term survival compared with those who abstained or decreased sexual activity, researchers found. Read more

No clinical benefit of ACE inhibitor, ARB suspension in mild to moderate COVID-19

In patients hospitalized with mild or moderate COVID-19, suspending ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers for 30 days, compared with continued treatment, did not impact the number of days alive and out of hospital. Read more

Hypertension may affect outcomes in COVID-19

The most prevalent comorbidity in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 was hypertension, which was also a risk factor for acute kidney injury in the ED and mortality in these patients, researchers found in two separate studies. Read more