Top in cardiology: Disparities in heart attack deaths; approaches to coronary intervention

Although the rate of heart attacks in the United States has declined by 50% in the last 20 years, patients from low-income households had significantly higher odds of mortality than patients from high-income households.

Additionally, new data showed that women and Black and Hispanic patients were less likely to undergo coronary angiography and/or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) following non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction. It was the top story in cardiology last week.

In another top story, a real-world study found that radial access PCI carried a lower risk for mortality, bleeding and nonfatal vascular complications than a transfemoral approach, but it was associated with higher risk for stroke.

Read these and more top stories in cardiology below:

Heart attacks have declined, but disparities in treatment, outcomes remain

Despite significant decline in heart attacks since 2004, inequities in STEMI management and mortality by age, gender, income and race, speakers reported. Read more.

Death, bleeding lower but stroke higher with radial access PCI vs. femoral access

Use of radial access for PCI has increased greatly in the U.S. over the last decade and is associated with lower risk for mortality, bleeding and nonfatal vascular complications compared with a transfemoral approach, a speaker reported. Read more.

New HCM guideline endorses cardiac myosin inhibitors, encourages exercise

A new guideline on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy endorses the use of cardiac myosin inhibitors for certain patients with obstructive HCM and encourages exercise in all patients with HCM. Read more.

AI could improve diagnostic scope of routine coronary angiography

AI accurately predicted several measures of cardiac function from coronary angiography that would otherwise require additional tests such as echocardiography or catheterization, a speaker reported. Read more.

Two new devices for advanced pulmonary embolism thrombolysis show promise

Two catheter-directed thrombectomy devices demonstrated efficacy and safety in the treatment of acute intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism, speakers reported. Read more.