European Society of Cardiology Congress

Clinicians are urged not to treat central sleep apnea in heart failure patients with adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) therapy, which was reported to increase mortality in heart failure patients.

New York City-based researchers reported that a leadless cardiac pacemaker (Nanostim/St. Jude Medical) implanted non-surgically via a catheter through the femoral vein had a better safety record than conventional devices. But it has other limitations.

The first real-world study of its kind revealed that rivaroxaban, marketed as Xarelto, can reduce the risk of stroke and major bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) – a group that is five times more likely to suffer a stroke compared to the general population.

Barry Greenberg, MD, UCSD Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center, La Jolla, California, USA, presented results from the Calcium Up-Regulation by Percutaneous Administration of Gene Therapy in Cardiac Disease Phase 2b (CUPID 2) gene transfer study at the European Society of Cardiology 2015 Congress.

Researchers who assessed patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) reported that extending the use of a particular anti-clotting medication following the procedure did not lead to additional benefits.

The Sanofi/Regeneron PCSK9 inhibitor alirocumab (Praluent)- approved in July in the US - lowered cholesterol in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia to levels "unreachable with statins" researchers said at the European Society of Cardiology meeting in London, UK.

The EXAMINATION trial showed a second generation drug-eluting stent did better than a bare-metal stent, researachers reported at ESC 2015 in London, UK.

In the time since Florence Nightingale first developed the profession of nursing as it is known today a lot has changed for the men and women in the field. Even still the work they do has been a key part of the medical world as training has increased and improved as well.

There are many challenges to heart health no matter where you live but there are small steps that can make a big difference in the long run.

For patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), administering ticagrelor in the ambulance safely reduces ischemic events 24 hours following primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Representing two of the major conferences in the cardiac world the American College of Cardiology and the European Society of Cardiology have found ways to work together to help patients on both sides of the Atlantic.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) cause more than 52% of all deaths in females, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), and myocardial infarction (MI) incidence is increasing in the younger population.

The glucose-lowering medication lixisenatide was found not neither increase nor decrease cardiovascular (CV) events compared with placebo in patients afflicted with type 2 diabetes and acute coronary syndrome.

There could be a new first-line treatment for hypertension in patients needing diuretic therapy, according to research presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress conference in London, UK.

In heart failure patients with diabetes and/or chronic kidney disease, a new, non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist called finerenone was no more effective than the currently approved MRA eplerenone in reducing the heart failure biomarker N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide. But it had other benefits.

As with all cardiac intervention procedures there are risks for the patients. However, working in consultation with doctors the results can be minimized to provide the best level of care.

The MANTRA-PAF trial, A study looking at a treatment for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation reached its five year follow-up mark and the results were shared at the recent European Society of Cardiology Congress to see whether surgical or pharmaceutical treatment was better for patients.

Researchers in Scotland found that in a trial involving more tha n 7,000 patients, the rates of adverse cardiac and other negative outcomes were about the same whether these patients took NSAIDs or COX-2 inhibitors.

The benefits of naps for young children have been well established and utilized for many years. A recent study looked at whether taking a nap in the middle of the day could help hypertensive adults better manage their condition.

While PCSK9 inhibitors have been shown to help patients lower their cholesterol levels, there are still questions about potential side effects as well as when and how the medication will be made affordable and available to patients.

According to trial results presented at ESC Congress 2015, treatment with cyclosporine was no better than placebo for patients who received percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

It was less than two decades ago that researchers uncovered the role of PCSK9 in a person's body. In just the past few months two new medications have been developed that could go a long way in helping win the fight against bad cholesterol.

For some patients lifestyle intervention may not be enough to help them get the results they are looking for. Doctors are looking for more definitive treatments to assist their patients in the future.

By the time patients are treated by a cardiologist their condition has already made significant progress. Finding ways to treat them before they reach the specialist stage has become a focus of the medical community.

Not all emergency rooms are created equal, but if hospitals work together patients can still get the care they need even if it means going to another institution. Ensuring patients can afford the care they receive is also a key component to this discussion.

In an emergency room doctors sometimes only have a matter of moments to make the best diagnosis for a patient. Having the tools to make those calls is important in keeping their patients healthy and alive.

While the treatment of atrial fibrillation has made many advancements in recent years there is still much more work to be done. As with other areas of medicine this includes individualized approaches to care.

At the annual ESC Congress in London there were many key studies presented. Some of them could provide information that doctors can put into practice as soon as they return to the office.

Atrial fibrillation is a common condition cardiologists face on a regular basis. How best to treat those patients is an area still being worked on in the field and in practices around the world.