Top news of January: Alcohol and AF, COVID-19 mortality in high CV risk and more
Healio and Cardiology Today have aggregated the top news in cardiology of January 2021.
Readers were most interested in the relationship between alcohol and risk for atrial fibrillation; the latest research on colchicine; the CV impact of COVID-19; and more.
One drink per day may be enough to increase risk for AF
As little as one alcoholic drink per day may confer elevated risk for development of AF, regardless of age and other CV risk factors, according to a study published in the European Heart Journal. Read more
Nearly 1 in 4 hospitalized patients with HF, COVID-19 die
Patients with HF and COVID-19 had high risk for complications, with nearly 1 in 4 dying during hospitalization, researchers reported. Read more
FDA approves vericiguat to reduce HF hospitalization, CV mortality in HFrEF
Merck announced that the FDA has approved vericiguat to reduce CV death, subsequent HF hospitalization or need for outpatient IV diuretics in adults with symptomatic chronic HF with reduced ejection fraction. Read more
COLCORONA topline results: Colchicine reduces hospitalization, death in COVID-19
Colchicine reduced hospitalization and mortality in patients with COVID-19 by more than 20%, according to topline results of the COLCORONA randomized trial. Read more
BMI, physical activity, CVD risk relationship complicated
Increased physical activity may mitigate risk for CVD regardless of BMI, but elevated BMI itself remains a significant CVD risk factor, according to data published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. Read more
Renin-angiotensin inhibitors safe in patients hospitalized with COVID-19: REPLACE COVID
It is safe for patients hospitalized with COVID-19 to continue using renin-angiotensin system inhibitors, researchers reported. Read more
Controlled hypertension confers CV event risk, but physical activity may help
Controlled hypertension was associated with higher risk for major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events and all-cause mortality compared with normotension, according to results published in Heart. Read more
CV diagnostic testing down, ischemic heart disease deaths up during COVID-19 pandemic
Deaths associated with CVD rose during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., and the elevated mortality may be associated with a global trend in reduced CV diagnostic testing during that time, researchers wrote. Read more
COLCOT: Colchicine beneficial in patients with diabetes, recent MI
Patients with diabetes and recent MI had reduced risk for first and total CV events with colchicine compared with placebo, according to new data from the COLCOT trial. Read more