Cardiology

Cardiology is the branch of internal medicine dealing with disorders of the heart and blood vessels. The field is commonly divided in the branches of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology.

What is Cardiology?

The term cardiology is derived from the Greek words “cardia,” which refers to the heart and “logy” meaning “study of.” Cardiology is a branch of medicine that concerns diseases and disorders of the heart, which may range from congenital defects through to acquired heart diseases such as coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure.

How the Heart Pumps Blood

Artificial Intelligence in Cardiology

Heart Disease Biomarkers and Screening Tests

Cardiothoracic Imaging Techniques

Limiting Cardiovascular Risk Using Akkermansia

Cardiac Pharmaceutical Agents

Structure and Function of the Heart

Hidden Signs of Heart Problems

Myocardial T1 and T2 Mapping

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Cardiology Procedures

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Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS)

Percutaneous Closure Procedure

Latest Cardiology News and Research

Breast cancer survivors could avoid lifelong heart medication, research suggests

Many breast cancer survivors whose treatment caused them to develop problems with their heart function can safely stop their medication after their heart recovers and most won't need to continue treatment long-term, according to a study funded by the British Heart Foundation and presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Munich.

30 Aug 2026

Digital registry strategy doubles heart failure treatment uptake

A registry-based digital strategy that identified untreated patients and invited them to a telephone consultation more than doubled implementation of an effective type of heart failure treatment.

29 Aug 2026

SWITCH SWEDEHEART trial shows prasugrel matches ticagrelor with less bleeding

Prasugrel reduced major cardiovascular events to the same extent as ticagrelor but with lower major bleeding after coronary stenting in patients with acute coronary syndromes, according to results from the SWITCH SWEDEHEART trial presented in a Hot Line session today at ESC Congress 2026 and published simultaneously in the New England Journal of Medicine.

29 Aug 2026

Investigational anti-interleukin-6 monoclonal antibody achieves durable inflammatory biomarker reductions

The investigational anti-interleukin-6 (IL-6) monoclonal antibody pacibekitug produced sustained reductions in inflammation-related biomarkers through six months in patients with chronic kidney disease and elevated inflammatory risk associated with heart disease.

29 Aug 2026

New study detects silent atherosclerosis in healthy young adults

Atherosclerosis, the process underlying most cardiovascular diseases, begins long before the first symptoms appear.

29 Aug 2026

POET-II trial reduces antibiotic duration for infective endocarditis by two weeks

A response-tailored strategy reduced antibiotic duration by two weeks without compromising the safety of patients with left-sided infective endocarditis.

28 Aug 2026

Oral anticoagulants benefit patients with atrial fibrillation at intermediate stroke risk

Oral anticoagulant therapy lowered the risk of adverse clinical events compared with no anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation at intermediate stroke risk, according to results from the SINGLE-AF trial presented in a Hot Line session today at ESC Congress 2026 and published simultaneously in the New England Journal of Medicine.

28 Aug 2026

Younger heart patients benefit from implantable cardioverter-defibrillators in CMR GUIDE trial

An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator did not improve the primary endpoint overall in the CMR GUIDE trial but younger patients appeared to benefit, according to results presented in a Hot Line session today at ESC Congress 2026 and published simultaneously in JAMA.

28 Aug 2026

CARDIO-TTRansform trial investigating eplontersen fails to meet primary efficacy endpoint

The CARDIO-TTRansform trial investigating eplontersen in patients with transthyretin-mediated amyloid cardiomyopathy did not meet its primary efficacy endpoint, according to results presented in a Hot Line session today at ESC Congress 2026.

28 Aug 2026

Major cardiac societies develop and publish a universal definition of myocardial infarction

When a myocardial infarction, such as a heart attack, occurs, being able to classify its type can improve diagnosis and treatment.

28 Aug 2026

First joint guidelines address cardiovascular events and chronic kidney disease

The first-ever European Society of Cardiology Guidelines on the management of cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease have been developed in collaboration with the European Renal Association.

28 Aug 2026

New guidelines simplify heart failure phenotypes into two groups

Reflecting improved understanding and treatment advances, new European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines on heart failure have been published online today in the European Heart Journal and will be presented at ESC Congress 2026 this afternoon.

28 Aug 2026

New international guidelines highlight the extensive benefits of cardiac rehabilitation

The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines on cardiac rehabilitation have been published online today in the European Heart Journal.

28 Aug 2026

Study shows how temperature extremes can contribute to heart failure hospitalizations

Heart failure hospitalization risk increases after short-term exposure to cold spells, lower ambient temperatures and higher ambient temperatures, according to a study published in JACC, the flagship journal of the American College of Cardiology, and simultaneously presented at ESC Congress 2026.

28 Aug 2026

Study reveals how SGLT2 inhibitors improve failing heart function

Researchers have discovered that SGLT2 inhibitors, a class of drugs originally developed to treat diabetes and now widely used for heart failure, work by activating a key enzyme that helps heart cells produce and use energy more efficiently.

27 Aug 2026

Former ESC president judged guilty of severe misconduct over drug ties

A British cardiologist and former president of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) has been judged by the ESC to have committed severe misconduct after a Danish TV documentary reported that he had been involved in drawing up guidelines for the use of the heart drug ivabradine (Corlanor, Procoralan) while profiting from lucrative contracts with the drug's maker.

27 Aug 2026

Coronary artery calcium scan may be most valuable for a specific group of patients

It's an increasingly popular scan that measures calcium in the heart's arteries and helps predict risk of future heart disease.

26 Aug 2026

Study: Nearly 8 out of 10 young adults have cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome

A new scientific study found that nearly 8 out of 10 young adult participants, average age 23 years, had cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome (CKM syndrome), according to new independent research published today in Circulation: Population Health and Outcomes, a peer-reviewed scientific journal of the American Heart Association.

20 Aug 2026

Review reveals how nicotine damages blood vessels and heart health

A review published today in Nature Reviews Cardiology provides the most detailed picture yet of how nicotine damages the cardiovascular system – tracing the biological chain of events from the moment nicotine binds to receptors in blood vessel walls through to the atherosclerotic plaque rupture that triggers heart attacks and strokes.

19 Aug 2026

Immune signaling pathway protects newborn heart cells from injury

Researchers at the University Hospital of Bonn (UKB) and the University of Bonn have identified a previously unknown signaling pathway in the immune system that helps newborn heart cells survive and regenerate after injury.

17 Aug 2026