Clinical Cardiology Alert – October 1, 2021

October 1, 2021

• Screen Older Heart Failure Patients for Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis

  A screening study of heart failure patients ≥ age 60 years, left ventricular ejection fraction ≥ 40%, and left ventricle wall thickness ≥ 12 mm revealed 6.3% prevalence of transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis, a highly treatable disease.

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• Slow, Steady, and Synchronized Wins the Race

  In patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure, definitive rate control via atrioventricular junction ablation and biventricular pacing resulted in a significant reduction in all-cause mortality vs. pharmacologic rate control.

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• Early Coronary Angiography in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

  In a trial of immediate vs. delayed coronary angiography for resuscitated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, researchers found no significant benefit on 30-day mortality.

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• First-Line Therapy for Hypertension

  When comparing angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) to treat hypertension, researchers observed no difference in major cardiovascular events — but a better safety profile for ARBs.

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• Progression of Coronary Calcium on Statin Treatment

  In those treated with statins vs. those who were not, statins decreased plaque volume in plaques with little or no calcium (plaque regression) and increased calcium density without changes in plaque volume in calcified plaques (plaque stabilization).

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