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Hypertension drug may reduce heart failure risk in people recovering from heart attack

New research found that the medication spironolactone, often prescribed for hypertension (high blood pressure), may reduce the risk of heart failure in people recovering from a heart attack.

18 Nov 2024

Edoxaban proves effective in preventing blood clots, stroke after heart valve surgery

Edoxaban, an oral anticoagulant, was equally or more effective than warfarin in reducing the risk of stroke and blood clots for patients after heart valve replacement surgery, according to preliminary late-breaking science presented today at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2024.

18 Nov 2024

Electronic nudges boost flu vaccination rates among heart attack survivors

An electronic letter, or nudge, highlighting the cardiovascular benefits of influenza vaccines improved vaccination rates among more than 2 million adults—with a greater impact on those who have had a heart attack—across three clinical trials spanning the most-recent, two consecutive influenza seasons in Denmark.

18 Nov 2024

AI program enhances echocardiogram interpretation and reduces wait times

Using an artificial intelligence program to read echocardiograms may reduce the wait time for results and help lead to more timely medical care, according to late-breaking science presented today at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2024.

18 Nov 2024

Active feedback improves pharmacist participation in heart failure treatment

Pharmacists who received active feedback about their heart failure patients increased the frequency of their patient interactions and prescribed more heart failure medication adjustments, according to late-breaking science presented today at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2024.

18 Nov 2024

Intravenous infusion of exenatide fails to reduce risks of complications in heart surgery patients

A large-scale clinical trial found that intravenous infusion of exenatide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analog medication, during heart surgeries involving bypass did not significantly reduce the risk of death, stroke or organ failure.

18 Nov 2024

Intensive blood pressure treatment reduces cardiovascular risk in people with Type 2 diabetes

An intensive treatment approach to lowering high systolic blood pressure in people with Type 2 diabetes led to a reduced risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure and death due to cardiovascular disease when compared to a standard treatment approach, according to late-breaking science presented today at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2024.

18 Nov 2024

Tirzepatide improves heart health and function in obese HFpEF patients

In the international SUMMIT trial, adults with heart failure preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and obesity taking tirzepatide for up to 3 years had a reduced combined risk of worsening heart failure events and cardiovascular death, and improved health status and physical function in comparison to participants taking placebo, according to late-breaking science presented today at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2024.

18 Nov 2024

Anticoagulants fail to reduce cognitive decline in younger adults with AFib

Prescribing anti-clotting medications to adults younger than age 65 who have atrial fibrillation (AFib) but no other risk factors for stroke did not reduce the risk of cognitive decline, stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), according to late-breaking science presented today at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2024.

18 Nov 2024

Ablation may offer better outcomes than medication for ventricular tachycardia

Ablation, a procedure to treat abnormal electrical short circuits caused by a heart attack and is usually reserved for patients who do not improve with medication, may be a better first-line treatment for heart attack survivors experiencing dangerous rapid heartbeat episodes, according to late-breaking science presented today at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2024.

18 Nov 2024

Phase 3 study finds inebilizumab effective for immunoglobulin G4–related disease

An international, phase 3 clinical trial led by investigators at Mass General Brigham could improve the treatment of a rare disease that can cause debilitating symptoms.

14 Nov 2024

Update on diagnosis, risk classification and treatment of Kawasaki Disease

Advances in cardiac imaging techniques and risk categorization have led to improvements in diagnosis, initial treatment and long-term management of patients with Kawasaki Disease, according to a new scientific statement published today in the American Heart Association's flagship, peer-reviewed journal Circulation.

14 Nov 2024

Primary care clinicians key to achieving optimal cardiovascular health

Primary care clinicians and practices are uniquely positioned to help people achieve optimal cardiovascular health through screening, diagnosing and treating the health behaviors and factors outlined in the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 health metrics to reduce the risk for heart disease and stroke, according to a new scientific statement published today in the Association's peer-reviewed journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

13 Nov 2024

Updated recommendations stress importance of CPR for drowning victims

Updated guidance reaffirms the recommendation for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and highlights the importance of compressions with rescue breaths as a first step in responding to cardiac arrest following drowning, according to a new, focused update to Special Circumstances Guidelines from the American Heart Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

12 Nov 2024

KFF Health News sues to force disclosure of Medicare Advantage audit records

KFF Health News has sued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General to compel it to release a range of Medicare Advantage health plan audits and other financial records.

12 Nov 2024

Early RSV vaccination in pregnancy provides best protection for newborns

Current guidelines recommend that pregnant people receive a vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) - which typically causes mild, cold-like symptoms in most adults but can be deadly for infants - during weeks 32–36 of pregnancy.

11 Nov 2024

Bystander CPR within 10 minutes of cardiac arrest increases survival chances and brain recovery

The sooner a lay rescuer (bystander) starts cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a person having a cardiac arrest at home or in public, up to 10 minutes after the arrest, the better the chances of saving the person's life and protecting their brain function, according to preliminary research to be presented at the American Heart Association's Resuscitation Science Symposium 2024.

11 Nov 2024

Obesity-related heart disease deaths rise sharply in the U.S. between 1999 and 2020

Heart disease deaths related to obesity increased by 180% in the U.S. between 1999 and 2020, especially among middle-aged men, Black adults, residents of Midwestern states and non-metropolitan areas, according to a preliminary study to be presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2024.

11 Nov 2024

COVID-19 pandemic led to significant decline in cardiac arrest survival rates

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rates dropped significantly at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and have continued to remain lower than in the pre-pandemic years of 2015-2019, according to a preliminary study to be presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2024.

11 Nov 2024

AI-based video system may offer quick, no-contact screenings for high blood pressure and diabetes

A new system that combines high-speed video and an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered algorithm may offer quick, no-contact screenings for high blood pressure and Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes without needing blood tests, blood pressure cuffs or expensive wearable devices, according to a preliminary study to be presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2024.

11 Nov 2024

Health Insurance News and Research

Hypertension drug may reduce heart failure risk in people recovering from heart attack

Edoxaban proves effective in preventing blood clots, stroke after heart valve surgery

Electronic nudges boost flu vaccination rates among heart attack survivors

AI program enhances echocardiogram interpretation and reduces wait times

Active feedback improves pharmacist participation in heart failure treatment

Intravenous infusion of exenatide fails to reduce risks of complications in heart surgery patients

Intensive blood pressure treatment reduces cardiovascular risk in people with Type 2 diabetes

Tirzepatide improves heart health and function in obese HFpEF patients

Anticoagulants fail to reduce cognitive decline in younger adults with AFib

Ablation may offer better outcomes than medication for ventricular tachycardia

Phase 3 study finds inebilizumab effective for immunoglobulin G4–related disease

Update on diagnosis, risk classification and treatment of Kawasaki Disease

Primary care clinicians key to achieving optimal cardiovascular health

Updated recommendations stress importance of CPR for drowning victims

KFF Health News sues to force disclosure of Medicare Advantage audit records

Early RSV vaccination in pregnancy provides best protection for newborns

Bystander CPR within 10 minutes of cardiac arrest increases survival chances and brain recovery

Obesity-related heart disease deaths rise sharply in the U.S. between 1999 and 2020

COVID-19 pandemic led to significant decline in cardiac arrest survival rates

AI-based video system may offer quick, no-contact screenings for high blood pressure and diabetes

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

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