Top in cardiology: FDA approval of Leqvio, data on aspirin use for ASCVD prevention

Last week’s top story in cardiology was about the FDA approval of Leqvio for LDL lowering. According to the manufacturer, the drug is administered twice a year after the initial dose and a follow-up dose at 3 months.

Another top story was about the use of aspirin for atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) prevention in patients aged 70 years and older. Researchers said that aspirin is recommended as secondary prevention due to its benefits in reducing vascular mortality, but the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association discourage its use for primary prevention.

Read these and more top stories in cardiology below:

FDA approves inclisiran for LDL lowering

Novartis announced that the FDA has approved Leqvio (inclisiran), its small-interfering RNA therapy for LDL lowering. The drug was approved as an adjunct to diet and maximally tolerated statin therapy for adults with clinical ASCVD or heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia who require additional LDL lowering, the company stated in the release. Read more.

Aspirin use for primary ASCVD prevention common in older adults despite guidelines

Aspirin use for primary ASCVD prevention continues to be prevalent in adults aged 70 years or older despite contrary guideline recommendations, according to data published in the American Journal of Preventive Cardiology. Read more.

Apixaban may be safer for older patients with AF vs. rivaroxaban

Anticoagulation with rivaroxaban for patients with atrial fibrillation aged 65 years or more was associated with greater risk for major ischemic and hemorrhagic events compared with apixaban, according to data published in JAMA. Read more.

Novel biomarker shows promise for predicting all-cause death, stroke events

Among Japanese outpatients with cardiovascular risk factors, the biomarker growth differentiation factor-15 was linked with increased risk for all-cause death and stroke events, researchers reported. Read more.

Meditation may reduce systolic BP in Black patients with high-normal BP

Transcendental meditation may be a useful intervention for lowering systolic BP in Black patients with high-normal BP, according to study data published in American Journal of Preventive Cardiology. Read more.