Top Cardiology news of 2020: The CV impact of COVID-19, exercise, naps, coffee and more

Healio and Cardiology Today have curated a list of the most-read news in cardiology and cardiac intervention from 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic dominated the news cycle, but readers were also interested in the CV impact of chronic exercise; naps and CVD; azithromycin vs. amoxicillin in CV mortality; and more.

Cardiology societies recommend patients taking ACE inhibitors, ARBs who contract COVID-19 should continue treatment

Several American and European cardiology societies issued statements to dispel misinformation circulating about an association between treatment with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system antagonists such as ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers and increased risk for COVID-19 and increased severity of the disease for those who have contracted COVID-19. Read more

Chronic exercise training increases fatty acid, ketone consumption in men

The extent and magnitude of metabolic adaptation to chronic exercise training in men were greater than originally believed, likely due to increased consumption of ketone body substrates and fatty acid, researchers reported in Cardiovascular Research. Read more

Naps longer than 1 hour may confer risk for CVD, mortality

Adults who napped longer than 1 hour per day had elevated risk for CVD and mortality compared with those who did not nap at all, according to a meta-analysis presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress. Read more

Azithromycin confers twofold greater 5-day CV mortality risk vs. amoxicillin

Outpatient use of the antibiotic azithromycin was associated with greater 5-year risk for CV death, non-CV death and all-cause mortality compared with amoxicillin, researchers reported. Read more

Cardiovascular considerations of COVID-19: Current evidence and remaining knowledge gaps

Two recently published reviews assessed the current literature relating to CV considerations of COVID-19 and identified knowledge gaps that remain. Read more

New study to provide insight on hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 prevention in health care workers

The WHIP COVID-19 study assessed whether hydroxychloroquine will prevent or impede COVID-19 in health care workers and first responders. Read more

Some COVID-19 treatments prompt arrhythmia concerns; management strategy needed

This article highlights medications being used or considered for the treatment of COVID-19 that have significant proarrhythmic potential and offers suggestions to minimize risk to patients, including a simple strategy that is feasible for managing patients in whom use of two or more proarrhythmic drugs is unavoidable. Read more

Unfiltered coffee may increase mortality risk

People who drank unfiltered coffee had a higher risk for mortality compared with those who drank filtered coffee, according to a study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. Read more

MACE risk after PCI higher for Black vs. white patients

Black race independently predicted worse outcomes after PCI, according to an analysis of 10 randomized trials that included Black, white, Asian and Hispanic patients. Read more

Cath lab concerns prompted by COVID-19

As more is learned about the COVID-19 pandemic, cardiology societies have issued advisories with steps to take in the cardiac catheterization laboratory to ensure optimal safety of patients and hospital personnel. Read more