Top in cardiology: CVD mortality rate stalls; depression is a greater risk factor in women

Recent study results showed that despite improved hypertension control, there has been little decline in CVD deaths among patients with hypertension since the first decade of the 2000s.

“There should be renewed focus on improving blood pressure control among U.S. adults with hypertension and preventing hypertension among those without it,” Eunhee Choi, PhD, assistant professor of pathology and cell biology at the Columbia Hypertension Laboratory at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and colleagues wrote. “There are opportunities to further reduce all-cause and CVD mortality among U.S. adults with hypertension by treating other CVD risk factors.”

It was the top story in cardiology last week.

In another top story, researchers found that among adults with depression, the risk for cardiovascular events was greater among women than men.

“The identification of sex-specific factors in the adverse effects of depression on cardiovascular outcomes may help in the development of targeted prevention and treatment strategies that address the specific CVD risks faced by depressed patients,” Hidehiro Kaneko, MD, assistant professor in the department of cardiology at the University of Tokyo, said in a press release.

Read these and more top stories in cardiology below:

No improvement in CV death for adults with hypertension in recent years

After decades of decline in CVD deaths among patients with hypertension, there has been no significant change since the first decade of the 2000s, according to a study published in Hypertension. Read more.

Depression may have greater impact on heart health for women than men

Among adults with depression, risk for cardiovascular events was greater in women compared with men, regardless of age or obesity status, researchers reported in JACC: Asia. Read more.

For people living in extreme poverty, heart disease risk factors more common than thought

People living in extreme poverty had a higher prevalence of heart disease risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, smoking, obesity and dyslipidemia than previously thought, according to an analysis of people from 78 countries. Read more.

Noninvasive CAD staging system receives FDA breakthrough device designation

Cleerly has received FDA breakthrough device designation for its coronary artery disease staging system, which was also accepted into the FDA’s Total Product Life Cycle Advisory Program Pilot, according to a company press release. Read more.

Pulmonary artery sensor for patients with heart failure beats performance goals

Management of patients with heart failure guided by a pulmonary artery sensor exceeded performance goals and was linked to improved quality of life and functional capacity compared with historical performance goals, researchers reported. Read more.