American Heart Association

R3 Vascular Inc. received FDA IDE approval for its ELITE-BTK trial of MAGNITUDE®, a next-gen bioresorbable scaffold for BTK PAD, with trial initiation in Q1 2025 at 60 global sites. The scaffold aims to address Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia, using a unique polymer for thinner, stronger, and more flexible designs.

AI in cardiology shows potential in imaging and ECG interpretation but requires guidance and evidence of benefit for widespread implementation.

The Australian health system faces high chronic disease burdens, particularly cardiovascular disease (CVD), with $14 billion spent annually on CVD health costs. The Cardiovascular Health Leadership Research Forum (CV HLRF) was established in 2022 by the Australian Cardiovascular Alliance (ACvA) to integrate national conversations on CVD and stroke among health system stakeholders. Key elements of CV HLRF include endorsement by the National Health Chief Executive Forum, commitment from health leaders, collaborative research prioritization, and partnerships with health services and industry. The forum aims to harmonize data use, influence policy and practice, and maximize the impact of medical research, leveraging funding and in-kind support to address CVD effectively.

Innovation in prevention and global implementation, vascular outcomes, novel trials for heart failure, targeted therapies for cardiomyopathies, AF management, cardiovascular interventional outcomes, incretin modulation, and advances in lipid therapeutics were discussed at the event, featuring various randomized trials and clinical studies.

Halloween sugar overload can cause blood sugar spikes and crashes, leading to irritability and symptoms like dizziness. Luis Rustveld advises starting with a balanced meal, engaging in physical activity, and sticking to the American Heart Association’s daily sugar limit of 25 grams. Offering fruit or protein-rich snacks can help control cravings, while dark chocolate and hard candies are better options. Sugar-free treats with sugar alcohols can cause GI distress, and limiting sugar intake before bedtime is recommended.

HeartLung Technologies introduces AutoChamber™ AI, an FDA-designated Breakthrough AI for detecting asymptomatic heart disease in CT scans, enabling evaluation of coronary disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and stroke risk. AutoChamber™ leverages deep learning and chest CT scans to flag high-risk patients, potentially saving lives by facilitating earlier intervention.

In a multicenter trial of 224 asymptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis and myocardial fibrosis, early aortic valve intervention did not significantly reduce the primary composite endpoint of all-cause death or unplanned aortic stenosis-related hospitalization compared to guideline-directed conservative management (18% vs 23%). Early intervention was associated with fewer NYHA class II-IV symptoms and unplanned hospitalizations, but further research is needed to confirm these findings.

A randomized clinical trial involving 50 physicians found that using a large language model (LLM) did not significantly improve diagnostic reasoning performance compared to conventional resources. The LLM alone outperformed both physician groups, indicating a need for further development in human-computer interactions to effectively integrate LLMs into clinical practice.

Cardiol Therapeutics initiates MAVERIC-2 trial for recurrent pericarditis patients after interleukin-1 blocker cessation, aiming to offer CardiolRx as a more effective treatment. The company secured USD 15.5 million to fund the trial and operations, with a key data presentation scheduled for November 18, 2024, at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions. First Berlin Equity Research maintains a 'Buy' recommendation with a target price of USD 8.50.