The Risk of Early Recurrent MI: What is the Role of Cholesterol Efflux and ApoA-I?

Prosessor Eliot A. Brinton on the risk and incidence of recurrent CV events post-AMI, and the role of cholesterol efflux and ApoA-I in plaque stabilization. There is a large clinical trial ongoing, that have results in the next 1-2 years. Let's keep tuned to this study and see what we see in the near future.

Bempedoic Acid Improves Cardiovascular Outcomes In Statin Intolerant Patients At High Cardiovascular Risk

Prosessor Eliot A. Brinton explains the results of the CLEAR Outcomes trial, the first study to assess whether bempedoic acid could reduce cardiovascular outcomes. The cholesterol-lowering drug bempedoic acid reduced the combined rate of major adverse cardiovascular events by 13%, meeting its primary endpoint in a large study of patients with high cholesterol who were unable to tolerate statins, according to research being presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session Together With the World Congress of Cardiology.

How to increase prescription of evidence-based therapies in adults with T2D and ASCVD? - The COORDINATE-Diabetes Study

Dr. Neha Pagidipati presented the COORDINATE-Diabetes Study's primary results. Evidence-based therapies are under-used in clinical practice, and there is little high-quality data on how to improve this. This multifaceted intervention is effective in increasing the prescription of evidence-based therapies in adults with T2D and ASCVD. For more information visit: coordinatediabetes.org

The FREEDOM COVID Anticoagulation Strategy Randomized Trial

Professor Gregg Stone explains the results of the FREEDOM COVID Anticoagulation Strategy Randomized Trial. The main conclusions are among non-critically ill pts hospitalized with COVID-19, at 30 days the lower incidence of the primary outcome for therapeutic dose compared with prophylactic dose did not reach statistical significance. However, significantly fewer pts treated with therapeutic-dose died or required endotracheal intubation within 30 days. Outcomes with therapeutic-dose enoxaparin and apixaban were similar, and bleeding was infrequent with all three regimens. Based on these findings, the use of therapeutic-dose anticoagulation may improve outcomes in non-critically ill patients hospitalized with COVID-19 who are at increased risk for adverse events but do not yet require ICU level-of care.

Minimally Invasive Versus Conventional Sternotomy For Mitral Valve Repair Surgery - UK Mini Mitral Trial

Professor Enoch Akowuah explains the results of the UK Mini Mitral Trial. The best surgical approach for mitral valve repair is widely debated. The trial found that Mini MVr is as safe and effective as Sternotomy MVr for DMR.

Can Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy do Vigorous Exercise? - A Multinational Lifestyle And Exercise Study

Professor Rachel Lampert explains the findings of LIVE-HCM trial presented at ACC.23/WCC: patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who exercised vigorously did not have an increased incidence of serious cardiac events during three years of follow-up compared to patients who exercised moderately or were inactive.

Efficacy and Safety of Oral PCSK9 Inhibitor, MK-0616 in the Treatment of Hypercholesterolemia

Professor Eliot Brinton, the President, Utah Lipid Center, Salt Lake City explains the results of the research led by Professor Christie Ballantyne, that found MK-0616, an oral PCSK inhibitor, substantially reduced LDL Cholesterol by over 60% at 8 weeks in a clinical trial presented at the American College of Cardiology's 72nd Annual Scientific Session & Expo in New Orleans.

Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair of Functional Mitral Regurgitation in Heart Failure - The COAPT Trial

Professor Gregg Stone explains details on the COAPT trial which set out to assess the safety and efficacy of transcatheter mitral leaflet approximation using MitraClip among symptomatic heart failure patients with secondary mitral regurgitation. In the COAPT trial, compared with GDMT alone, patients with HF and severe secondary mitral regurgitation undergoing TEER with the percutaneous edge-to edge repair system had lower 2-year rates of fatal and nonfatal all-cause hospitalizations and HFH and spent more time alive and out of the hospital.

Elevated Lipoprotein(a) as a Risk Enhancing Factor for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease

Searching for potential cardiovascular risk factors led to many discoveries in the last decades and radically changed our view on CV prevention. Professor Nathan Wong took part in an expert discussion about Lipoprotein(a) at the recent ACC23 Congress. He explained that Lp(a) is an underrecognized genetic risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Elevated levels are seen in approximately 20% of the population so this really should be a call to action to mesure this at least once in a person's life. Particularly in those with a personal or family history of ASCVD and for those who have elevated levels. A more intensive approach at risk factor management is warranted, including more intensive efforts to reduce LDL cholesterol. At present and hopefully in the future therapies currently in development will to lower Lp(a) and will be proven to reduce ASCVD risk in those individuals elevated Lp(a).

Sotatercept in combination with background therapy for the treatment of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension — STELLAR Trial

Professor Marius Hoeper explains the results of a phase 3 trial of sotatercept for treatment of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. The conclusion is that in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension who were receiving stable background therapy, sotatercept resulted in a significant improvement in exercise capacity.

The Omega-3 Mystery: New Evidence Supports the Therapeutic Value of EPA

Professor Eliot A. Brinton talks about a new development about the use of Omega-3 fatty acids at the American College of Cardiology and World Congress of Cardiology meeting . The new data support the potential beneficial effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in reducing cardiovascular events. In vitro data presentations proves antithrombotic and antioxidant effects of EPA compared to DHA, while mineral oil and corn oil had no effect. We recommend the following websites in this regard: National Lipid Association - https://www.lipid.org/ American Board of Clinical Lipidology - https://www.lipidboard.org/