WHO Endorses Polypills; SAVR Valve Recall; Bronny James Recovering

— Recent developments of interest in cardiovascular medicine

by
Nicole Lou, Senior Staff Writer, MedPage Today
August 1, 2023

The WHO Model List of Essential Medicines added three polypills for the prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Low-dose aspirin failed to reduce ischemic stroke among older adults in a secondary analysis of ASPREE. (JAMA Network Open)

While all types of exercise are associated with lower blood pressure, isometric holds like wall squats and planks appeared most effective in a meta-analysis. (British Journal of Sports Medicine)

Fitbit-measured daily step count and floors climbed correlated with patient-reported outcomes for heart failure. (JACC: Heart Failure)

An artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm was trained to parse ECG images for any detectable left ventricular systolic dysfunction. (Circulation)

UltraSight announced that the FDA cleared its AI-based ultrasound guidance software that helps medical professionals lacking sonography experience with their point-of-care cardiac scans.

The FDA said that Abbott is pulling all Trifecta surgical valves in the U.S. due to early structural valve deterioration after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR).

The agency also said the delivery sheath used to place the Abbott Amplatzer Amulet left atrial appendage occluder is under class I recall due to an increased risk of air emboli.

In addition, the FDA announced it approved the Cordis Palmaz Mullins XD pulmonary stent for pediatric pulmonary artery stenosis.

The FDA also cleared the Axinon LDL-p assay, which uses nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Numares Health announced.

Also approved was a prothrombin complex concentrate (Balfaxar) for the urgent reversal of warfarin-acquired coagulation factor deficiency in adult patients undergoing surgery, manufacturer Octapharma said.

The CardioVascular Coalition is among the groups complaining about clinical labor cuts and other reimbursement reductions proposed in the 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.

American societies released new performance measures for coronary artery revascularization, to be used for public reporting or pay-for-performance programs. (Journal of the American College of Cardiology)

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons revamped its Operative Risk Calculator for adult cardiac surgeries.

The known actionable genetic variants in dilated cardiomyopathy are less applicable to Black people due to their lower representation in genetic studies. (JAMA)

One week after his cardiac arrest, 18-year-old Bronny James was already back eating in public and playing the piano. (Los Angeles Times)

Amid speculation about his health, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) went back to work after freezing mid-sentence during a news conference last week. (Washington Post)

Leukocyte telomere length was associated with positive cardiac remodeling and a lower risk of heart failure. (JAMA Cardiology)

Aortic stenosis progresses more slowly in women despite similar mortality rates between sexes. (JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging)

The link between high serum uric acid and venous thromboembolism was replicated in a Chinese population. (Lancet Regional Health-Western Pacific)

A rare cellular angiofibroma tumor, occupying the right ventricular outflow tract, was found to have caused a young girl’s episodic syncope. (European Heart Journal)

Stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes are being sent to space to study how they mature in microgravity, the International Space Station National Laboratory announced.