Star Update Podcast - Cardiology News Summaries

The use of beta-blockers for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction in the era of SGLT2 inhibitors – are westill afraid to up-titrate? DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s00380-025-02525-7 Beta-blockers are one of the four major pillars of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The therapy has presented the best effects when up-titrated t...

Triglyceride glucose-waist circumference as a predictor of mortality and subtypes of cardiovascular disease: asystematic review and meta-analysis DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/s13098-025-01616-9 Abstract Background The significant burden of cardiovascular diseases underscores the necessity for identifying novel predictive markers that can forecast both cardiovascular diseases and mortality. In recen...

Impact of beta-blocker up titration on patients after transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair for secondary mitral regurgitation: The OCEAN-mitral registry https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2024.132595 Abstract Background Optimal medical therapy for patients with secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR) undergoing transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (M-TEER) remains unclear. This stud...

Metoprolol vs diltiazem for atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular rate: Systematic review and meta-analysis of adverse events https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2024.12.070  Abstract Background Intravenous (IV) diltiazem and metoprolol are commonly used to achieve rate control for atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular rate (Afib with RVR), and are both recommended as first-line by current gu...

Examining the Specificity of Smartphone ECG Devices in Decision-Making for ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction and Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction DOI:  https://doi.org/10.30701/ijc.1740 Abstract Background & Objectives: Electrocardiography (ECG) stands as a cornerstone diagnostic tool for assessing cardiac health, particularly in ruling out abnormalities. The integration of smartphone d...

TICA-CLOP STUDY: Ticagrelor Versus Clopidogrel in Acute Moderate and Moderate-to-Severe Ischemic Stroke, a Randomized Controlled Multi-Center Trial Randomized Controlled Trial CNS Drugs. 2025 Jan;39(1):81-93. doi: 10.1007/s40263-024-01127-7. Abstract Background:  Many studies evaluated the efficacy and safety of ticagrelor versus clopidogrel in patients with ischemic stroke; none of these trials i...

A comparison of the effects of ticagrelor and clopidogrel in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials BMC Pharmacol Toxicol. 2024 Dec 9;25(1):93. doi: 10.1186/s40360-024-00817-8.  Abstract Background: Rupture of unstable coronary atherosclerotic plaque leads to acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctio...

Impact of Adherence to Beta-Blockers in Patients With All-Comers ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction and According to Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction at Discharge: Results From the Real-World Registry FAST-STEMI J Cardiovasc Pharmacol . 2024 Dec 1;84(6):581-589. doi: 10.1097/FJC.0000000000001627.   Abstract Beta-blockers are a crucial part of post-myocardial infarction (MI) pharmacologic...

Global Impact of Optimal Implementation of Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy in Heart Failure JAMA Cardiol . 2024 Dec 1;9(12):1154-1158. doi: 10.1001/jamacardio.2024.3023.  Abstract Importance: Guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) remains underutilized on a global level, with significant disparities in access to treatment worldwide. The potential global benefits of quadruple therapy on patie...

Intravascular imaging-guided percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock Rev Esp Cardiol (Engl Ed) . 2024 Dec;77(12):995-1007. Abstract Introduction and objectives : There are no clinical data on the efficacy of intravascular imaging-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) compared with angiography-guided percutaneous coronary inter...

Ticagrelor monotherapy the way forward after Percutaneous Coronary Interventions: An updated meta-analysis https://doi.org/10.1161/circ.150.suppl_1.4124335   Abstract  Background: With the advent of newer generation drug eluting stents, the chorus for shortening the duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) is getting louder and louder. Ticagrelor...

Exploring The Risks And Benefits of Upstream Loading of P2Y12 inhibitors In Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients https://doi.org/10.1161/circ.150.suppl_1.4139561 Abstract Background: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is the leading cause of heart disease, resulting in over 300,000 deaths annually. The 2014 ACC/AHA guideline recommends a loading dose of a P2Y12 receptor inhibitor prior to PCI with stenting...

Guideline-directed medical therapy improves cell viability in an iPSC-derived cardiomyocyte hypoxia injury model https://doi.org/10.1161/circ.150.suppl_1.4147229   Abstract Introduction: Beta blockers, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone antagonists, and mineralocorticoid antagonists are mainstays of current guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. They...

Contemporary Use of β-Blockers in Heart Failure Patients With and Without Atrial Fibrillation: A Nationwide Database Analysis Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2024 Nov 18. doi: 10.1002/cpt.3496. Abstract Evidence of the effectiveness of β-blockers in heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) in a contemporary cohort is controversial. This study investigated the association between the use of β-blockers...

Role of ticagrelor in the peri-thrombolytic phase for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: a comprehensive review Thromb J . 2024 Oct 11;22(1):90. doi: 10.1186/s12959-024-00658-9 Abstract Recent years have seen ticagrelor, a potent P2Y12 inhibitor, emerge as a significant advancement in the peri-thrombolytic management of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctio...

Antihypertensive therapy in patients with arterial hypertension and concomitant diseases in real clinical practice (according to the National Registry of Arterial Hypertension, 2019–2022) https://doi.org/10.26442/00403660.2024.09.202848 Abstract Background. Arterial hypertension remains the leading risk factor associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cerebrovascular disease and chronic kidn...

Short-Term Dual Antiplatelet Therapy After Drug-Eluting Stenting in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes. A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis JAMA Cardiol. Published online October 9, 2024. doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2024.3216 Abstract Importance  : The optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary inte...

Position of Beta-blockers in the Treatment of Hypertension Today: An Indian Consensus J Assoc Physicians India . 2024 Oct;72(10):83-90. doi: 10.59556/japi.72.0715. Abstract Background: Management of essential hypertension (HTN) remains challenging, with contemporary control being achieved in <1/10 of the cases, especially when aligned with the recently updated guidelines of American College of...

Transcatheter Valve Repair in Heart Failure with Moderate to Severe Mitral Regurgitation DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2314328   Background Whether transcatheter mitral-valve repair improves outcomes in patients with heart failure and functional mitral regurgitation is uncertain.  Methods We conducted a randomized, controlled trial involving patients with heart failure and moderate to severe functional mitra...

2024 European Society of Cardiology  Guidelines for Management of Elevated BP and Hypertension: Key Points European Heart Journal, ehae178, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehae178 The key points to remember from the 2024 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines for the management of elevated blood pressure (BP) and hypertension are:   · The most important point is that the target systolic...

2024 European Society of Cardiology  Guidelines for Management of Chronic Coronary Syndromes: Key Points European Heart Journal, ehae177, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehae177  The key points to remember from the 2024 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines for the management of chronic coronary syndromes (CCS) are:  · The term chronic coronary syndromes describes the clinical presenta...

Pulmonary Vein Isolation vs Sham   Intervention in Symptomatic Atrial Fibrillation: The SHAM-PVI Randomized Clinical Trial JAMA 2024 Sep 2:e2417921. doi: 10.1001/jama.2024.17921  Abstract Importance: There are concerns that pulmonary vein isolation for atrial fibrillation may have a profound placebo effect, but no double-blind randomized clinical trials have been conducted.   Objective: To determi...

Eligibility and Projected Benefits of Rapid Initiation of Quadruple Therapy for Newly Diagnosed Heart Failure JACC Heart Fail. 2024 Aug;12(8):1365-1377. doi: 10.1016/j.jchf.2024.03.001.  Abstract Background: U.S. nationwide estimates of the proportion of patients newly diagnosed with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) eligible for quadruple medical therapy, and the associated ben...

Early postoperative beta-blockers are associated with improved cardiac output after late complete repair of tetralogy of Fallot: a retrospective cohort study Eur J Pediatr. 2024 Aug;183(8):3309-3317. doi: 10.1007/s00431-024-05597-1.  Abstract Tetralogy of Fallot is the most common cyanotic congenital heart disease. For decades, our institution has cared for humanitarian patients with late presenta...

Efficacy and Safety of P2Y12 monotherapy vs DAPT   in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: meta-analysis of randomized trials Curr Probl Cardiol. 2024 Aug;49(8):102635. doi: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2024.102635  Abstract Background: Debates persist regarding the optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in coronary artery dise...