Top in cardiology: Updates in hypertension research; predictors of cardiovascular events

Experts at the Cardiovascular Translational Research Center at the University of South Carolina are leading research in hypertension to further advancements in CVD prevention.

Their efforts include investigations into the role of cell damage in hypertension and the relationship between changes in the vasculature and hypertension.

Healio spoke with R. Clinton Webb, PhD, director of the Cardiovascular Translational Research Center, about key topics in hypertension research. It was the top story in cardiology last week.

Another top story was about a study that found the level of inflammation better predicted future cardiovascular events or death than the level of LDL in patients at high cardiovascular risk who are already taking statin therapy. Researchers said the findings indicate that this population may need anti-inflammatory therapy just as much as cholesterol-lowering therapy to prevent cardiovascular events and death.

Read these and more top stories in cardiology below:

Hypertension research could yield advancements in CVD prevention

Hypertension is one of the most common risk factors for CVD, and despite numerous therapies existing, rates of uncontrolled hypertension have risen since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more.

Inflammatory risk better predicts events vs. cholesterol risk in statin-treated patients

In high-risk patients on statin therapy, residual inflammatory risk as assessed by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein better predicted cardiovascular events and death than residual cholesterol risk as assessed by LDL, data show. Read more.

Connections between neighbors of varying incomes tied to lower premature CV death

Increased neighborhood connectedness of people of lower and higher socioeconomic status via Facebook friendships was associated with lower county-level prevalence of cardiovascular death, a speaker reported. Read more.

Remote monitoring of cardiac devices during pandemic cut greenhouse gas emissions

Remote monitoring of more than 32,000 patients with cardiac implantable devices during the COVID-19 pandemic reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 12,596 metric tons compared with conventional monitoring, researchers reported. Read more.

Black women with genetic variant for amyloidosis face substantial CVD, mortality risk

Black female carriers of the V122I genetic variant for cardiac amyloidosis have substantially higher CVD and all-cause mortality risk, which grows with age, compared with noncarriers, researchers reported. Read more.