‘Historical change’ in number of heart failure deaths, other top stories in cardiology

Recent findings revealed a 38% increase in heart failure deaths among older adults in the United States from 2011 to 2017 — described by one researcher as a “really historical change.”

Read about the study and more top stories in cardiology.

Heart failure deaths increased by 38% from 2011 to 2017

Despite a slow decline in the rate of heart disease mortality in the general population, substantial increases in the growth rate of patients older than 65 years with the highest risk for heart disease were linked to an increase in the number of heart disease deaths, according to a study published in JAMA Cardiology. Read more.

Antihypertensives at bedtime confer improved BP control vs. morning medications

Patients with hypertension who took BP-lowering medications at bedtime had improved ambulatory BP control compared with those who took medications when they woke up, which led to a reduction in major CVD events, according to a study published in the European Heart Journal. Read more.

Microvascular endothelial dysfunction confers twofold increase in cancer risk

Microvascular endothelial dysfunction may serve as a marker for cancer, as patients with the condition had elevated risk for solid-tumor cancer, according to a study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. Read more.

Racial disparities in emergent heart failure care, outcomes identified

Black and Hispanic patients admitted with heart failure are less likely to be treated in cardiac units than white patients and have a higher rate for readmission within 30 days of discharge, according to a study published in Circulation: Heart Failure. Read more.

Fully implantable left ventricular assist device nets FDA breakthrough device designation

Medtronic announced it has received a breakthrough device designation from the FDA for its fully implantable left ventricular assist device for patients with advanced heart failure. Read more.