FDA OKs dapagliflozin for heart failure regardless of diabetes status, plus more top stories in cardiology
The FDA has approved the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin for patients with heart failure with reduced injection fraction regardless of diabetes status. It was the top story in cardiology last week.
Another top story was about a review that investigated possible risk factors associated with myocardial injury in patients with COVID-19.
Read these and more of last week’s top stories in cardiology below:
FDA approves dapagliflozin for HFrEF regardless of diabetes status
AstraZeneca announced the FDA has approved its SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin to reduce risk for cardiovascular death and heart failure (HF) hospitalization in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction with and without type 2 diabetes. Read more.
Review identifies possible mechanisms for elevated troponin, cardiac injury in COVID-19
No mechanism has been definitively proved as the cause for elevated troponin in patients with COVID-19, but researchers suggested that risk factors such as myocarditis, ACE2 downregulation, type 2 MI and cytokine storm may be associated with myocardial injury in those with the disease. Read more.
Alcohol consumption increases risk for PAD, stroke
Higher alcohol consumption predicted by genetics was associated with elevated risk for peripheral artery disease and stroke, according to a study published in Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine. Read more.
Elevated BP, diabetes, obesity accelerate vascular aging in teens
Patients with elevated systolic BP, type 2 diabetes and obesity in early life had an accelerated progression of risk factors associated with early vascular aging, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Read more.
Ambulatory telemetry monitors may help arrhythmia management in COVID-19
Ambulatory telemetry monitors for patients with COVID-19 being treated with hydroxychloroquine and/or azithromycin provided real-time alerts to electrophysiologists and may improve their ability to monitor QTc changes and arrhythmias, reduce the need for serial ECGs and better allocate resources, researchers reported. Read more.