Top in cardiology: COVID-19 linked to increased CV risk; semaglutide improves HF symptoms

Researchers found that patients with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test faced an increased risk for major adverse cardiac events vs. individuals without SARS-CoV-2; this risk was even higher among patients hospitalized for COVID-19.

Among those hospitalized for COVID-19, having non-O blood types was associated with a greater risk for major adverse CV events vs. those with O blood type.

“It's known that there's CV risk associated with having COVID-19, but what isn't known is how long that lasts, how big an impact that has and, from a clinical perspective, should that be impacting the way we approach our patients for CV risk assessment,” Stanley L. Hazen, MD, PhD, co-section head of preventive cardiology and chair of cardiovascular and metabolic sciences at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, told Healio.

It was the top story in cardiology last week.

In another top story, researchers found that semaglutide helped patients with obesity improve their physical limitations and exercise function, as well as reduce inflammation, congestion and body weight, with a sustained effect at 52 weeks.

Read these and more top stories in cardiology below:

COVID-19 a CV risk equivalent to prior heart disease; type O blood may be protective

Prior SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with a twofold increased risk for heart attack and stroke for SARS-CoV-2 up to 3 years, even among people with no history of heart disease, researchers reported. Read more.

Wegovy improves exercise function in obesity-related HF with concomitant weight loss

Semaglutide 2.4 mg was linked to early, sustained improvement in exercise function among patients with obesity-related HF and improved most among those with the largest proportionate weight loss, a speaker reported. Read more.

FDA grants breakthrough device designation to AI-powered aortic stenosis screening tool

AccurKardia announced its AI-powered, ECG-based aortic valve stenosis screening software has been granted breakthrough device designation by the FDA. Read more.

VIDEO: ‘Clear lack of data’ on digital CV health tools for women concerning

In this Healio video exclusive, Sana M. Al-Khatib, MD, professor of medicine at Duke University School of Medicine, discusses barriers to developing cardiovascular digital health solutions for women. Watch here.

Benefits of finerenone consistent in HF regardless if EF midrange or preserved

New data from the FINEARTS-HF trial show that finerenone improved outcomes in patients with HF compared with placebo across the entire midrange and preserved ejection fraction ranges. Read more.