Top in cardiology: Athletes’ health after COVID-19, intensive vs. standard BP treatment

In a study evaluating the cardiac health of young athletes who recovered from COVID-19, researchers found that most did not require additional cardiac testing before resuming activity. It was the top story in cardiology last week.

Another top story focused on a secondary analysis of the SPRINT trial, which compared intensive BP treatment against standard treatment in patients with CVD risk. The analysis revealed greater CVD risk reduction with an intensive BP-lowering regimen in patients with the highest baseline risk factors.

Read these and more top stories in cardiology below:

SARS-CoV-2 infection in young athletes tied to low risk for cardiac events

Collegiate athletes were unlikely to develop cardiac complications from SARS-CoV-2, according to a study published in Circulation. Read more.

SPRINT: Patients at most risk derive greatest benefit from intensive BP lowering

Patients with the highest baseline risk factors derived the most benefit from an intensive BP-lowering regimen compared with standard care, according to a secondary analysis of the SPRINT trial. Read more.

Intersection between heart and liver ‘a rapidly evolving field’

About 25% of U.S. adults have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which is the most common chronic liver condition in the U.S., according to the American Liver Foundation. Read more.

HF readmission rates rose from 2010 to 2017

Despite the introduction of financial penalties for U.S. hospitals with high heart failure readmission rates, heart failure readmission rates rose from 2010 to 2017, according to a new analysis in Circulation: Heart Failure. Read more.

Among stroke survivors who smoke, e-cigarette users more likely to quit

Nearly 14% of active smokers who survived a stroke use e-cigarettes, and those users were more inclined than e-cigarette nonusers to try to quit smoking within the past year, according to a research letter published in JAMA Neurology. Read more.