Heart Failure

For patients who receive left ventricular assist device implants there is no assurance that the device will work enough for them to have a high quality of life. New research has shown a potential treatment which could make a significant improvement in this area.

The annual American Heart Association Scientific Sessions were filled with a wide range of presentations made in New Orleans. It was the late breaking news that made the most impact for those in attendance as they look to the future of cardiac care.

As the American Heart Association wrapped up another successful conference in New Orleans, each of the approximately 18,000 providers in attendance was bringing home something new to their practices or optimism for new treatments to come in the future.

Novel oral anticoagulants have made treatment of many patients considerably easier over the past few years. Finding ways to apply that to veterans can help a patient population deserving of high quality health care.

Much like civilians, military veterans have trouble maintaining safe levels with warfarin treatment.

With more than 10,000 providers from around the world converging on the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions, lessons from the event can be implemented as soon as the next day or show promise of work to come in the future.

The treatment of cardiovascular disease for men may be ahead of where it is for women, but there is a concerted effort to bring the two into a more balanced measure.

A lot is yet to be determined about the potential benefits of precision medicine in cardiology. As that field develops, there will also be questions about the varying benefits for men and women.

A PCSK9 inhibitor that reduces cholesterol by RNA interference instead of the monoclonal antibody approach appears effective and holds the promise of fewer injections and lower cost, researchers said today.

Praluent has been studied at a variety of levels and, now that it's been approved, there has been more insight on its benefits and risks.

With statins being a common treatment option to help patients reduce their cholesterol levels, the still relatively newly approved PCSK9 inhibitors have proven a valuable tool. However, they are not enough to help eliminate concerns about cardiac care and cholesterol.

Doctors prescribing Praluent for their patients have two dosing options to choose from. Studies on the treatment option have shown that the safety profile for both are good for patients.

In just over a year, Praluent has shown benefits in helping patients lower their cholesterol level. Despite the progress, there have also been some challenges.

Left ventricular assist devices are usually associated with keeping patients alive while they wait for a heart transplant. Using the devices with aggressive drug therapy enabled some patients to recover heart function and forgo the pumps.

For doctors concerned about cardiovascular disease in patients, there have been some lingering questions about the best medications to prescribe.

AHA President Steven Houser opens the AHA Scientific Sessions 2016 with a moving talk on his father's premature death from heart disease.

The mysterious sudden deaths of apparently healthy people, some young and engaged in sports, could be explained by mutations uncovered by a Canada research team.

The American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2016 gets underway in New Orleans, LA, this weekend. Here are some studies to watch for.

Even after the implantation of a left ventricular assist device there is no guarantee that patients will live much past the procedure. Planning for life after the implant can be as important as the time beforehand.

“The reason we are talking about vaccinations is that they are some of the simplest interventions we can provide our patients to reduce heart failure (HF) hospitalizations and HF exacerbations,” says Dr. Orly Vardeny, PharmD.

There have been great strides made in recent years to help treat patients diagnosed with heart disease. As technology improves and new medications are developed it will be important to ensure they can get to the patients who need them most.

While lifestyle modifications and changes in diet can help prevent heart disease in men and women alike there are some distinct differences when it comes to treating these patients once a diagnosis is made.

As more has been learned over the years about heart disease there is also a greater awareness of the impact it can have on women. Because of this increased awareness a greater effort is underway to help catch these conditions before they become fatal.

“Acute alcohol consumption has long been linked to development of AF. In the Framingham, Copenhagen, and Women's Health Studies, chronic alcohol consumption, especially two or more drinks per day, is associated with up to 30% higher risk for incident AF,” the study authors wrote in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

For many, cardiovascular disease can be seen as mostly an issue facing men. However, work has been done to raise the education of women to help ensure their health as well.

While some people may see high blood pressure as a normal factor in pregnancy and delivery it can actually be a serious problem at the time and down the road.

Patient selection, proper up-titration, and insurance barriers must be considered by cardiologists and other physicians seeking to treat patients with the new combo medication.

Lack of guidelines and recommendations on use, ill-defined value of care, patient preference, and physicians’ lack of awareness are among the factors that can prevent widespread adoption of new medications.

Recent trials involving promising medications to treat patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction have not produced significant reductions in mortality.

Research results presented at HFSA 2016 support switching from conventional treatment approaches to the new combination treatment.