Transcatheter valve-in-valve procedure improves short-term outcomes in high-risk patients

In patients with a poorly functioning bioprosthetic mitral valve in the heart, a minimally invasive procedure to insert a new valve was associated with a lower rate of death or disabling stroke within one year, compared with patients who underwent standard repeat mitral valve replacement surgery, according to a study presented at the American College … Read more

Minimally invasive valve repair lowers hospitalizations in heart failure patients

At two years of follow-up, patients with a poorly functioning tricuspid valve in the heart who received optimal medical therapy plus a minimally invasive procedure using a clip to repair the valve were significantly less likely to die, have a heart attack or stroke and 40% less likely to be hospitalized for heart failure compared … Read more

New mother’s experience highlights importance of postpartum heart care

At 35, Brooklyn resident Luyba Caloras was healthy, with no history of heart problems and no reason to think she was at risk of them. But pregnancy can act as a stress test on the heart—and soon after delivering her son at NYU Langone Health on February 3, 2024, she was diagnosed with a complication … Read more

Heart failure and atrial fibrillation share underlying genetic and molecular mechanisms

New research published in Nature Cardiovascular Research reveals that heart failure and atrial fibrillation share underlying genetic and molecular mechanisms, suggesting that the two cardiovascular conditions may be less distinct than previously thought. Two serious heart conditions that often coexist Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle is damaged and unable to pump enough nutrient-rich blood to meet the … Read more

4D digital heart model transforms treatment for heart failure patients

A made-in-Calgary 4D heart model is transforming treatment for heart failure patients having a specialized pacemaker inserted, called cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). In a national clinical trial, published in Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, Dr. James White, MD, and his team found a clear benefit to using the model to target treatment. Developed at the University … Read more

Small, combined improvements to sleep, diet and physical activity may yield major heart benefits

New research shows that small improvements to sleep, diet quality, and physical activity, made in combination, are associated with a significantly reduced risk of major cardiovascular events such as stroke, heart attacks, and heart failure. The study followed more than 53,000 adults from UK Biobank over an eight‑year period and found that making even modest improvements … Read more

Moderate coffee intake may lower heart failure risk

Drinking 2 to 4 cups of coffee a day was linked to a modest reduction in heart failure risk in this updated meta-analysis, with the lowest estimated risk at 1 to 2 cups and the strongest message being moderation, not excess. Key takeaways Drinking 2 to 4 cups of coffee a day was associated with … Read more

Boy, 3, with rare heart condition thrives after op

A boy who had open-heart surgery at just seven months old is now a regular three-year-old who likes to play tennis and do puzzles, his parents have said. Alaric, who lives in Hethersett, Norfolk, was diagnosed with potential heart issues during a 12-week in-utero scan in 2023. Further tests at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital … Read more

New biotech partnership aims to accelerate stem cell therapies for heart disease

A new biotech company forged through an Australian and Danish partnership will accelerate treatments for children and adults with heart disease. Harnessing cellular therapies, the company aims to conduct human clinical trials within three to five years. Ibnova Therapeutics, launched today, has emerged from world-first, collaborative research by Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) in Melbourne and … Read more

Physical function metrics improve mortality prediction in elderly heart failure patients

Current models of mortality risk after heart failure (HF) rely primarily on cardiac-specific clinical variables and may underestimate risk in elderly East Asian patients. Researchers from Japan used machine learning to analyze data from a nationwide registry of elderly HF patients. Their new model includes metrics of physical function and improved risk reclassification by about … Read more