Certain Dairy Products are Associated With Reduced Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
A study presented at the annual meeting of EASD conference in Sep. revealed that dairy foods might offer protection against T2D or have no effect on its onset. Consumption of 200 g of milk lowered T2D risk by 10%, and 100 g yogurt correlated with a 6% risk reduction. However, cheese and full-fat dairy had no effect on T2D risk. The quality of the evidence was low to moderate, though.
Drinking 4 Cups of Tea Reduces the Risk of Diabetes
A recent study showed that drinking at least 4 cups of black, green or Oolong tea daily reduced the risk of developing T2D by 17% over the period of 10 years. Other studies found that drinking tea also lowered the risk of heart disease, stroke, and overall mortality. Antioxidants in tea could reduce inflammation and oxidative stress which protect cells from damage, warding off disease.
Long-standing Type 1 Diabetes May Alter the Gut Microbiome Composition
Research published in the Diabetes Journal found that the gut microbiome is altered in people with (long-standing) type 1 diabetes, while diversity is not affected. Around 43 bacterial taxa were significantly depleted in participants with T1D, whereas 37 bacterial species were enriched. Changes in the gut microbiome are associated with glycemic control and disease-related complications.
Oestrogen-Containing Contraceptives May Increase Risk of Blood Clots in Obese Women
A review paper published in ESC journal showed that use of oral contraceptives containing oestrogen and progestin increases risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) by 24 times in obese women compared to normal weight women not using the drugs. Progestin-only products, including pills, intrauterine devices, or implants are a safer alternative to the combined pill in overweight/obesity women.
Artificial Intelligence Model That Can Predict Pre-diabetes Risk Via Facial Blood Flow Patterns
NuraLogix has developed new AI models that can predict pre-diabetes risk.The machine learning-based model was trained using the facial blood flow patterns of participants who had recently undergone a blood test for fasting blood glucose and HbA1C. In future, this touchless model will allow people to screen themselves using any device with a camera setting, including a smartphone or tablet.
Angiotensin Receptor Blockers Reduces the Progression From Mild Cognitive Impairment to Dementia
A retrospective cohort study among 403 patients with hypertension and mild cognitive impairment found that angiotensin receptor blockers were associated with a lower risk of progression to dementia compared to ACE inhibitors and other classes of AHMs (beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, diuretics). However, further investigations in larger prospective cohorts or clinical trials are required.
Combination Therapy May Delay Need for Aortic Root Surgery
Most patients with Marfan syndrome experience aortic root enlargement which is treated via surgery. But a study revealed that ARBs and beta-blockers have similar and independent effects on reducing the aortic root Z score. If maintained over a period of several years, the drug combination would be expected to delay the need for elective aortic root surgery in patients with Marfan syndrome.
Does Allopurinol Improve Cardiovascular Outcomes in Ischaemic Heart Disease Patients?
Allopurinol is a xanthine oxidase inhibitor used to treat patients with gout. Previous studies have shown that the drug also has cardiovascular benefits. But the ALL-HEART study has shown that allopurinol doesn't improve cardiovascular outcomes such as nonfatal MI, nonfatal stroke, cardiovascular death, all-cause mortality, and hospitalisations in patients with ischaemic heart disease.
Can Cardiac Extracellular Vesicles Secreted by Diseased Hearts Promote Tumour Growth?
A study presented by MD Tal Caller at ESC 22 suggested a mechanistic link between heart disease and tumour growth, which is mediated by cardiac extracellular vesicles (EVs). Cardiac mesenchymal stromal cells from infarcted and failing hearts secrete EVs that can target tumour cells and accelerate their growth. EVs could be possible therapeutic targets in patients with concomitant CVD and cancer.
Statin Use in Low- and Middle-income Countries to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease
A study analysed data of 116449 non-pregnant individuals in 41 low and middle-income countries. It was found that statin has been used by 1 in 10 eligible people for the primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases and 1 in 5 people for secondary prevention. This highlights an urgent need to increase statin use in LMICs. WHO recommends that at least 50% of eligible people receive statin therapy.
World’s First Partial Heart Transplant Performed in an Infant
A child was born at Duke with truncus arteriosus, in which 2 main heart arteries were fused together. His one vessel had a leaky valve, making it less likely he could survive until a full heart transplant. So the doctors implanted the living arteries & valves from a donor heart into the patient’s existing heart. Valves will grow with the patient, reducing the need for multiple surgeries.
FIGARO-DK- Finerenone Reduces Cardiovascular Mortality in Patients With T2D and CKD
FIGARO-DKD trial showed that finerenone has salutary effects on CV outcomes among patients with T2DM and CKD, who were on a background of maximal RAS blockade therapy, primarily due to a reduction in hospitalization for HF. There was also a reduction in ESKD. New-onset HF was reduced among patients without HF at baseline. There was a higher risk of hyperkalemia with finerenone.
REVIVED-BCIS2 Trial - Efficacy and Safety of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention to Improve Survival
Percutaneous coronary intervention does not improve event-free survival in patients with ischaemic left ventricular systolic dysfunction. 700 patients with LVEF ≤35% and coronary artery disease were randomly assigned to PCI plus optimal medical therapy or optimal medical therapy alone. PCI did not result in a lower incidence of death from any cause or hospitalisation for HF over 3.4 years.
ACT Inpatient Trial: Colchicine and Rivaroxaban Plus Aspirin in Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19
One out of every five patients in the ward with COVID-19 died in the ACT inpatient trial (high mortality rate). Colchicine did not give a mortality advantage in the ACT study, regardless of whether the patient is on MV or has previously been vaccinated, or if the patient has long or short duration of symptoms. A meta-analysis of anticoagulation in inpatients showed 40% decrease in VTE.
Implementing Best Practices Across The Spectrum of Heart Failure
To avoid morbidity, patients with HFpEF and HTN should be administered titrated drugs to achieve their BP targets. SGLT2i is an ideal cardio-renal-metabolic therapy for HF, as one pill/day improves survival, prevents hospitalization, and improves QoL and functional status. In a 55-year-old patient with HFrEF, comprehensive therapy (with ARNI+BB+MRA+SGLT2i) provided an overall 6.3 additional years.
SGLT2 Inhibitors in HFpEF - Light at The End of The Tunnel
SGLT2i was first intended to treat diabetes, but studies have shown that it is also useful in treatment of HF. In individuals with HFpEF or HFmrEF, dapagliflozin treatment decreases the risk of the primary composite outcome of CV death or worsening HF. EMPEROR-Preserved trial showed that empagliflozin improved HF outcomes in patients with symptomatic stable HFpEF on good baseline GDMT.
FOURIER-OLE Primary Results
Long-term use of Evolocumab with a median follow-up of more than 7 years appears to be safe and well-tolerated. Early initiation of Evolocumab is beneficial for CVD and CVD mortality over several years. FOURIER-OLE study results argue for early initiation of marked and sustained LDL-C reduction for maximum clinical effect.
FIDELITY: Causes of Mortality
Finerenone not only reduced the risk of all-cause and CV mortality but also reduced the risk of sudden cardiac death. The effect of Finerenone on mortality outcomes was more pronounced in patients with higher baseline eGFR. Finerenone improves prognosis even in well-managed patients.
15-month Results of The MASTER DAPT Trial
Antiplatelet therapy intensity (DAPT vs SAPT or SAPT vs no APT) was influenced by perceived ischemic risk or prior ischemic events, but not by bleeding risk or prior bleeding events. Adverse clinical events and MACCE remained similar, MCB was low at 15 months suggesting no ischemic or fatal events and at least persistent bleeding compared to standard treatment after Ultimaster stent implantation.
PARADISE-MI Trial - Win Ratio Analysis
PARADISE-MI trial showed that Sacubitril/Valsartan was superior than Ramipril in high-risk survivors of MI. Win ratio analysis can be a useful adjunct to the conventional time-to-first event analysis for trials with composite outcomes, where the ranking of the clinical importance of the different types of events is considered relevant. This analysis can inform the design of future CV trials.
