Top stories in cardiology: coronary artery calcification common in some athletes, not associated with long-term risk, updated atrial fibrillation guidelines recommend newer oral anticoagulants

Among the top cardiology stories last week were a study that found high-volume endurance athletes were likely to have prevalent coronary artery calcification but that this did not increase risk for long-term mortality and updated atrial fibrillation guidelines that recommend non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants over warfarin to reduce stroke.

Other highlights included trial results that suggested intensive BP control did not significantly reduce the risk for probable dementia in patients with hypertension, but did reduce the risk for mild cognitive impairment, data that found an ultrasound imaging system was safe and resulted in freedom from atrial fibrillation at 12 months and the American Heart Association’s new Heart and Stroke Statistics that determined 45% of U.S. adults had some form of CVD from 2013 to 2016.

Prevalent coronary artery calcification common in high-volume endurance activity athletes, but no long-term risk for mortality

Men who participate in high-volume endurance activity — equivalent to running approximately 6.5 km per day or 250 to 300 minutes per week — were likely to have prevalent coronary artery calcification, but no increased risk for all-cause or CVD mortality at long-term follow-up, according to new data published in JAMA Cardiology. Read more.

Updated atrial fibrillation guidelines recommend newer oral anticoagulants for stroke prevention

Non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants are now recommended over warfarin to reduce the risk for stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation, excluding those with moderate to severe mitral stenosis or a mechanical heart valve, according to a focused guideline update issued by the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology and Heart Rhythm Society. Read more.

Intensive BP control reduces risk for mild cognitive impairment

In the SPRINT MIND trial, intensive BP control did not significantly reduce the risk for the primary outcome of probable dementia in patients with hypertension, but was associated with a significant reduction in the risks for secondary outcomes of mild cognitive impairment and a composite of mild cognitive impairment or probable dementia. Read more.

UNCOVER-AF: Imaging system confers freedom from atrial fibrillation at 12 months after ablation

A dipole density mapping and ultrasound imaging system in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation was safe and resulted in freedom from atrial fibrillation at 12 months and burden reduction, according to data from the UNCOVER-AF study presented at the AF Symposium. Read more.

Nearly half of all US adults have CVD

At least 48%, or 121.5 million, of all adults in the United States had some form of CVD from 2013 to 2016, according to the American Heart Association’s new Heart and Stroke Statistics. Read more.