Top news of October: CV impact of sociopolitical stress, STEMI in COVID-19 and more

Healio and Cardiology Today have curated a list of our top articles of October in cardiology and cardiac/vascular intervention.

Last month, readers were most interested in hypertension as a public health emergency, artificially sweetened vs. sugar-sweetened drinks, link between hydroxychloroquine and CV events and more.

CV events spiked after 2016 presidential election, perhaps due to sociopolitical stress

Acute CVD events in a Southern California cohort were 1.62 times higher in the 2 days after the 2016 U.S. presidential election compared with the same 2 days the week before the election, researchers reported. Read more

Surgeon general: Hypertension control must be national public health priority

The Office of the Surgeon General released a report highlighting the importance of hypertension control as a national public health priority. Read more

Mandatory ECG screening identifies student-athletes at risk for sudden cardiac arrest

After a school district mandated ECGs for all students wishing to participate in sports, the screenings uncovered nearly 200 children with abnormal findings, including eight who were at risk for sudden cardiac arrest, study findings showed. Read more

Shorter DAPT post-PCI noninferior to longer duration in high bleeding risk

Dual antiplatelet therapy for 1 month or 3 months was noninferior to a 12-month duration with regard to all-cause mortality and MI in patients with high bleeding risk undergoing PCI, researchers found. Read more

Artificially sweetened drinks may be just as harmful to CV health as sugar-sweetened ones

Drinking artificially sweetened beverages may be no more heart healthy than consuming soft drinks, syrups or fruit drinks, according to research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Read more

FDA panel recommends against approval of angina relief device

The FDA’s Circulatory System Devices Panel recommended the agency not approve an implantable device to treat refractory angina, saying more data are needed. Read more

Patients with STEMI, COVID-19 represent ‘unique and high-risk’ population

Initial outcomes from the North American COVID-19 STEMI Registry provide a snapshot of the characteristics, presentation, treatment strategies and clinical outcomes of patients with STEMI and confirmed COVID-19. Read more

Link between hydroxychloroquine, CV events reinforced

Treatment with hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine may increase the rates of several CV adverse events, including QT prolongation, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias and HF, researchers found. Read more

COVID-19 may increase risk for HFpEF

There may be a link between COVID-19 and HF with preserved ejection fraction, as infection from SARS-CoV-2 may cause, unmask or exacerbate HFpEF, according to a viewpoint published in JAMA. Read more

Braunwald: ‘Striking’ advances made in cardiometabolic care

In recent years, cardiologists, endocrinologists and primary care physicians have observed marked advances in the use of genetics, artificial intelligence and SGLT2 inhibitors in cardiometabolic care, according to a keynote speech. Read more