Top in cardiology: Platelet score predicts heart trouble; chronic noise and hypertension

A genetics-based platelet reactivity score can help identify people with a hyperreactive platelet phenotype who may have increased risk for a cardiovascular event, according to research published in Nature Communications.

In two high-risk cohorts, researchers reported an association between an above-median Platelet Reactivity Expression Score (PRESS) and increased risk for major cardiovascular events, including stroke, myocardial infarction and death.

“This score has been close to a decade in the progress,” Jeffrey S. Berger, MD, MS, director of the Center for Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease at NYU Langone Health and associate professor of medicine and surgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, told Healio.

“Using PRESS, we will be able to identify people who have platelet hyperreactivity ... who would most likely have the greatest benefit from an antiplatelet therapy drug, or if they were already on it, a more potent antiplatelet therapy drug.”

It was the top story in cardiology last week.

In another top story, researchers found that years of exposure to loud noise in the workplace may increase the likelihood of developing high blood pressure, potentially due to a stress response that causes hormonal imbalances.

Read these and more top stories in cardiology below:

Platelet reactivity score may predict heart attack, stroke risk beyond BP, cholesterol

A platelet reactivity score that identifies people with a hyperreactive platelet phenotype can be used to determine those who might be at elevated risk for a cardiovascular event, researchers reported in Nature Communications. Read more.

Chronic exposure to workplace loud noise raises likelihood of high blood pressure

Years of exposure to loud noise in the workplace may increase the likelihood of developing high blood pressure, according to a study presented at the American College of Cardiology Asia Conference. Read more.

FDA OKs updated label allowing aspirin to be dropped after LVAD implant

Abbott announced the FDA approved elimination of aspirin as part of routine management from the label of its fully magnetically levitated left ventricular assist device. Read more.

New tool identifies specific risk factors for heart failure in Native American adults

A novel prognostic model identified risk factors including smoking, obesity, HbA1c and albuminuria as significant predictors of incident heart failure risk among Native American adults, researchers reported. Read more.

Neighborhood disadvantage linked to high rate of hypertension, low rate of treatment

Neighborhoods with higher socioeconomic disadvantage, particularly predominantly Black areas, had higher rates of hypertension and lower rates of BP treatment vs. less disadvantaged neighborhoods, researchers reported. Read more.