Top news of July: Updates in cardiac xenotransplantation; bereavement and HF risk; and more

Healio and Cardiology Today have aggregated a list of the most-read cardiology news of July 2022.

Readers were most interested in the xenotransplantation of genetically modified pig hearts into two brain-dead humans; 2 decades of ‘striking’ declines in U.S. cardiometabolic health; the impact of bereavement on HF mortality; and more.

Genetically engineered pig hearts successfully transplanted into two brain-dead humans

A team at NYU Langone Health successfully transplanted two genetically engineered pig hearts into recently deceased humans in June and July, part of an effort to create a xenotransplantation protocol for people with heart disease. Read more

Declines in US cardiometabolic health ‘striking’; disparities persist over 2 decades

The prevalence of optimal cardiometabolic health among U.S. adults declined in the past 2 decades, with disparity gaps widening based on age, sex, education and race, researchers reported. Read more

Bereavement may increase HF mortality risk

The death of a close family member was associated with increased risk for death among people with HF, with risk highest during the first week after the loss, according to findings from a Swedish register-based study. Read more

Adding daily potassium may improve heart health in women with high-sodium diet

In women with a high-sodium diet, every 1 g increase in daily potassium intake was associated with a 2.4 mm Hg lower systolic BP, according to data from a large cohort study. Read more

Frequent daytime naps potential causal risk factor for hypertension, ischemic stroke

Adults who reported taking frequent daily naps had greater risk for essential hypertension and stroke compared with those who never or rarely nap, researchers reported. Read more

HF ‘most expensive’ comorbidity, exceeding $22 billion per year

An additional $22.3 billion is spent nationally on HF-related medical services each year, with the total annual expenditure for adults with HF approaching $180 billion, according to an analysis of Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data. Read more

Statin use for CVD may lower risk for COVID-19 hospitalizations, deaths

Statin use for primary prevention of CVD was associated with lower risk for COVID-19 hospitalizations and in-hospital deaths, according to findings from a cohort study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Read more

At least 150 minutes of weekly physical activity cuts risk for death

Healthy adults who reported long-term, guideline-recommended moderate or vigorous physical activity were less likely to die of any cause during decades of follow-up compared with those reporting no exercise, data show. Read more

Researchers identify lipid cutoffs for CVD risk in young adults without diabetes

Researchers have identified lipid cutoffs that may indicate elevated risk for MI and stroke among young adults aged 20 to 39 years without a history of diabetes, according to findings published in European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. Read more

Drinking alcohol linked to AF recurrence, not changes in atrial substrate

Alcohol intake was associated with recurrent atrial fibrillation after a single ablation but was not linked to changes in the atrial substrate, researchers reported. Read more