Top in cardiology: Vericiguat approval, air pollution and MI risk

The FDA recently approved vericiguat to reduce heart failure hospitalization and cardiovascular mortality in adults with symptomatic chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. It was the top story in cardiology last week.

Another top story was about a study that showed short-term air pollution exposure was associated with an increased risk for myocardial infarction (MI) mortality.

Read these and more news in cardiology below:

FDA approves vericiguat to reduce HF hospitalization, CV mortality in HFrEF

Merck announced that the FDA has approved vericiguat (Verquvo, Merck) to reduce cardiovascular death, subsequent heart failure hospitalization or need for outpatient IV diuretics in adults with symptomatic chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Read more.

Short-term air pollution exposure appears to confer greater risk for MI mortality

Those exposed to short-term ambient air pollution demonstrated an elevated risk for MI mortality, researchers reported. Read more.

Evolocumab may reduce likelihood of future revascularization in established ASCVD

Evolocumab (Repatha, Amgen), a PCSK9 inhibitor, in addition to statin therapy for stable atherosclerotic CVD may lower the risk for future revascularization with percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass graft surgery, according to findings published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Read more.

BMI, physical activity, CVD risk relationship complicated

Increased physical activity may mitigate the risk for CVD regardless of BMI, but elevated BMI itself remains a significant CVD risk factor, according to data published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. Read more.

Diabetes, insulin resistance associated with premature CHD onset in women

Diabetes and insulin resistance appeared to be the strongest determinants for premature onset of coronary heart disease in women, according to study data published in JAMA Cardiology. Read more.