Top stories in cardiology: Some COVID-19 treatments prompt arrhythmia concerns, cardiologists join fight against pandemic

In a recent commentary, Douglas Esberg, MD, FACC, FHRS, discussed arrhythmia concerns about treatments being used for COVID-19 and offered suggestions to minimize risk to patients. It was the top story in cardiology last week.

Another top story was about efforts at Mount Sinai Health System in New York to combat COVID-19 by converting the hospital’s cardiac ICU into a unit strictly dedicated to caring for the influx of patients with known or suspected infection.

Read these and more top stories in cardiology below:

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

The rapid spread of COVID-19 has led to some unique challenges for the medical community. Even in the best of circumstances, development of vaccines or direct treatments will take more than 1 year to move from development to widespread deployment in the general population. This has led clinicians and researchers to turn to existing therapies with ill-defined clinical benefit, but with known pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Read more.

Cardiologists join COVID-19 front line in converted cardiac ICUs

The Mount Sinai Health System in New York is one of many systems in the U.S. that has been adapting in the attempt to care for the influx of patients with known or suspected COVID-19. As elective surgeries are no longer being performed, the cardiac ICU at this hospital has been converted into a unit strictly dedicated to the care of patients with COVID-19. Read more.

US death rates from hypertension-related CVD rose from 2007 to 2017

In the United States, age-adjusted deaths from hypertension-related CVD increased from 2007 to 2017, with the trend accelerating starting in 2012 and the highest rate in the rural South region, according to findings presented at the virtual American College of Cardiology Scientific Session. Read more.

Voice analysis could play role in telemedicine, congestive HF care

Use of voice signal analysis, an emerging noninvasive biomarker, may identify patients with congestive heart failure who are at highest risk for 20-month hospitalization or mortality, using voice analysis, according to research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Read more.

CAC may best risk score for decisions on aspirin for primary prevention

Using coronary artery calcium scores may better define who should receive aspirin for primary prevention than using the Pooled Cohort Equations, researchers reported in Circulation. Read more.