The American Heart Association recently revealed the top 10 most impressive advances in CVD research in 2022, from significant improvements in stroke care to pregnancy outcomes. Here they are:
Linking Childhood Risk Factors to Future Heart Disease – For the first time ever, researchers directly linked childhood risk factors to CV events later in life, underscoring the importance of early intervention and management.
Treating Hypertension Improves Pregnancy Outcomes – Prescribing blood pressure medications to women with mild hypertension and are less than six months pregnant leads to better pregnancy outcomes without harming fetal growth.
The Placenta Reveals Maternal Heart Health – For women with poor pregnancy outcomes, clues to their long-term CV health might be found in the placenta.
Racial Disparities in Early CVD – Using more than 30 years of data, researchers found that the most significant contributors to racial differences in early CVD were from clinical and neighborhood factors in women, and clinical and socioeconomic factors in men.
One Pill to Rule Them All – The SECURE trial showed that treatment with a polypill containing aspirin, ramipril, and atorvastatin within 6 months after MI yielded stronger treatment adherence and lowered risk of MACE compared with usual care. (Dive deeper)
Broadening the SGLT2i Patient Pool – Several studies indicated that SGLT2 inhibitor therapy, originally developed for diabetes, is helpful in patients with heart failure regardless of LV function. (Dive deeper)
Double-Drug Strategy in Marfan Syndrome – Angiotensin receptor blockers can cut the rate of aortic root enlargement in half among patients with Marfan syndrome, including those taking beta-blockers. Using ARBs and beta-blockers together is more effective than either drug alone.
What’s the Word on Salt? – Reducing sodium intake by using a lower-sodium table salt substitute, containing 25% potassium chloride, lowered stroke risk and reduced healthcare costs. The authors said this strategy should be a priority in any country in which dietary sodium can be substantially reduced.
Preventing Post-Stroke Disability – A phase 3 trial showed that the up-and-coming thrombolytic tenecteplase is as effective as alteplase, the current standard, at preventing further disability 90 days after stroke. A second clinical trial found alteplase can lower the risk of post-stroke neurological problems when used after thrombectomy.
Obesity Drug as Effective as Surgery – A once-weekly injection of tirzepatide (Mounjaro) led to weight loss on par with that achieved through bariatric surgery in people with obesity.
