Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Cardiology for May 2020. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Globally, Women Less Likely to Develop Heart Disease Than Men
FRIDAY, May 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Women are less likely to have or die from cardiovascular disease than men, according to a study published online May 20 in The Lancet.
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VA Slashes Use of Hydroxychloroquine to Treat COVID-19 Patients
FRIDAY, May 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The VA health system has stopped nearly all use of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 patients, Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie said at a House hearing on Thursday.
Multiple Sclerosis Tied to Higher Risk for CVD, Cerebrovascular Disease
THURSDAY, May 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease that is not completely accounted for by traditional vascular risk factors, according to a study published online May 4 in JAMA Neurology.
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Tooth Loss More Prevalent in Adults With Chronic Disease
THURSDAY, May 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Adults with severe chronic disease or with fair or poor general health have a higher prevalence of edentulism and severe tooth loss, according to research published in the May 29 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Links Found Between Leaders of Medical Associations, Industry
THURSDAY, May 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There are extensive financial relationships between leaders of U.S. professional medical associations and industry, according to a study published online May 27 in The BMJ.
CV Toxicity Tied to Azithromycin and/or Hydroxychloroquine
THURSDAY, May 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin may have a serious adverse impact on the cardiovascular system, according to a research letter published online May 22 in Circulation.
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9.5 Percent Uninsured in U.S. From January Through June 2019
WEDNESDAY, May 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A total of 9.5 percent of persons were uninsured from January through June 2019, according to a report published online May 28 by the National Center for Health Statistics.
Disease-Modifying Drug Regimen May Offer Benefit in Heart Failure
THURSDAY, May 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The treatment effects of early comprehensive disease-modifying pharmacological therapy are considerable for patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), according to a study published online May 21 in The Lancet.
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Spirituality May Have Protective Effect on QOL for Stroke Survivors
THURSDAY, May 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — High spirituality among stroke survivors may moderate the association between care partner depressive symptomatology and quality of life (QOL) for survivors and their care partners, according to a study published online May 26 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
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Outcomes Similar After TAVR in Bicuspid, Tricuspid Anatomy
WEDNESDAY, May 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — All-cause mortality and stroke are comparable at 30 days and one year after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) among patients with bicuspid and tricuspid valve stenosis, according to a study published online May 27 in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.
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Palliative Care Linked to Fewer Readmissions for Heart Failure
WEDNESDAY, May 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients admitted with heart failure, palliative care is associated with fewer readmissions and less mechanical ventilation, according to a study published online May 27 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
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Only One in Four U.S. Hospitals With ICUs Have Tele-ICU Services
WEDNESDAY, May 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In 2018, half of U.S. hospitals had the capacity to conduct telehealth-based outpatient visits, while only one in four had tele-intensive care unit (tele-ICU) capabilities, according to a research letter published online April 30 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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WHO Suspends Testing of Hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 Patients
TUESDAY, May 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The World Health Organization has suspended use of the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine in a clinical trial of treatments of COVID-19 after a study revealed that patients taking the drug are at increased risk for death and serious heart problems.
High Prevalence of Primary Aldosteronism Observed
TUESDAY, May 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Primary aldosteronism is prevalent and increases in parallel with hypertension severity, according to a study published online May 26 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Right Ventricular Dilation Linked to Mortality in COVID-19
TUESDAY, May 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Right ventricular dilation is associated with in-hospital mortality among patients hospitalized with COVID-19, according to a study published online May 15 in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging.
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Hydroxychloroquine Plus Macrolides No Benefit in COVID-19
TUESDAY, May 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with COVID-19 requiring hospitalization, there is no evidence of benefit for use of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine with or without a macrolide, according to a study published online May 22 in The Lancet.
Cardiac Decompensation Seen in Children Following COVID-19
FRIDAY, May 22, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Children may experience acute cardiac decompensation due to a severe inflammatory state (multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children or MIS-C) following infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), according to a study published online May 17 in Circulation.
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Incidence of AMI Hospitalization Down During COVID-19
FRIDAY, May 22, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In Northern California, the incidence of hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic period, according to a letter to the editor published online May 19 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Rate of Stroke Low in Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19
THURSDAY, May 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The rate of imaging-confirmed stroke is low in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, but mortality is higher than in contemporary controls without COVID-19 and historical controls, according to a study published online May 20 in Stroke.
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Factors Linked to COVID-19 In-Hospital Mortality ID’d in NYC
THURSDAY, May 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Factors associated with in-hospital mortality include older age, chronic cardiac disease, and chronic pulmonary disease in a cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in New York City, according to a study published online May 19 in The Lancet.
Sex Differences ID’d in Prescription of Cardiovascular Meds
WEDNESDAY, May 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients at high risk for or with established cardiovascular disease in primary care, sex differences exist in the prescription of cardiovascular medications, according to a review published online May 20 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Global Practice Guidelines Issued by International Society of Hypertension
WEDNESDAY, May 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In International Society of Hypertension practice guidelines, published in the June issues of Hypertension and the Journal of Hypertension, recommendations are presented for the management of hypertension in adults aged 18 years and older.
Excessive Drinking Seen in Some Patients With Chronic Conditions
WEDNESDAY, May 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Among those reporting alcohol use, patients with certain common medical conditions are more likely to report excessive drinking, according to a study published online May 13 in JAMA Network Open.
Higher Burden of Cardiovascular Risk Tied to Cognitive Decline
TUESDAY, May 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Higher cardiovascular risk burden is associated with cognitive decline and neurodegeneration, according to a study published in the May 26 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Burnout Comparable Between Millennial, Gen X Residents, Fellows
TUESDAY, May 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Millennial and Generation X medical residents and fellows experience similar rates of burnout and have similar levels of empathy, according to a study published online May 5 in Academic Psychiatry.
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Spending on Primary Care Continues to Lag in the U.S.
TUESDAY, May 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Spending on inpatient services, specialty care, and prescriptions together accounted for about two-thirds of the increase in total U.S. health care spending from 2002 to 2016, according to a research letter published online May 18 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Higher Intake of Whole-Fat Dairy May Cut Metabolic Syndrome Risk
TUESDAY, May 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Higher intake of whole-fat dairy products is associated with a lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) as well as hypertension and diabetes, according to a study published online May 18 in BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care.
28 Million-Plus Surgeries Could Be Canceled Due to COVID-19
TUESDAY, May 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Worldwide, more than 28 million elective surgeries could be canceled or postponed during the 12 weeks of peak disruption due to COVID-19, according to a study published online May 12 in the British Journal of Surgery.
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Osteoporotic Fracture Risk Lower for DOAC Than Warfarin in A-Fib
MONDAY, May 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), the risk for osteoporotic fracture appears to be lower with direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) use compared with warfarin use, according to a study published online May 19 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Fruit-, Veggie-Rich Diet May Soon Lower Markers for Cardiac Injury
MONDAY, May 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For middle-aged adults without preexisting cardiovascular disease, eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables over eight weeks is associated with lower levels of markers for subclinical cardiac damage and strain, according to a study published online May 19 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Most Physicians Have Seen False-Negative COVID-19 Test Results
MONDAY, May 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Most physicians believe they have seen false-negative results for a COVID-19 diagnostic test, according to the results of a recent survey.
Use of Imaging to Assess Stroke Down in Early COVID-19 Epoch
MONDAY, May 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — From a prepandemic to early-pandemic epoch, there was a decrease in the use of imaging for the evaluation of stroke, according to a research letter published online May 8 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Hydroxychloroquine No Aid for COVID-19-Related Mortality
MONDAY, May 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Treating hospitalized COVID-19 patients with hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, or both is not associated with improvements in in-hospital mortality, according to a study published online May 11 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
T2DM Linked to Worse Cognitive Performance After Stroke
FRIDAY, May 15, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In a stroke population, type 2 diabetes (T2D), but not impaired fasting glucose, is associated with worse cognitive performance, according to a study published online May 14 in Stroke.
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Intensive Blood Pressure Control Tied to Lower Atrial Fibrillation Risk
FRIDAY, May 15, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Intensive blood pressure (BP) control can lower the risk for atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with hypertension at high risk for cardiovascular disease, according to a study published online May 4 in Hypertension.
Kawasaki-Like Disease Incidence Up After Start of SARS-CoV-2
THURSDAY, May 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The incidence of Kawasaki-like disease increased after the start of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic in the Bergamo province of Italy, according to a study published online May 13 in The Lancet.
COVID-19 Fatality Rate High for Heart Transplant Recipients
THURSDAY, May 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Heart transplant (HT) recipients with COVID-19 infection have a case fatality rate of 25 percent, according to a study published online May 13 in JAMA Cardiology.
Guidance Issued for Acute Large Vessel CVA During COVID-19 Pandemic
THURSDAY, May 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In a guidance statement from the Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology, published online April 29 in Stroke, recommendations are presented for the management of acute ischemic large vessel occlusion stroke during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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High Career Satisfaction Reported by Many Thoracic Surgeons
THURSDAY, May 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Thoracic surgeons have high career satisfaction, but more than half report symptoms of burnout and depression, according to a study published online May 14 in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
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Deceased Donor Transplantation Has Dropped Since COVID-19
WEDNESDAY, May 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Since the COVID-19 outbreak, there has been a reduction in deceased donor transplantations in France and the United States, according to a research letter published online May 11 in The Lancet.
Sugar-Sweetened Beverages May Increase Risk for CVD in Women
Poor Mental Health Tied to Premature Heart Disease 
Autism Tied to Higher Risk for Developing Cardiometabolic Disease 
Cardiovascular Hospitalization Increased After Sepsis Hospitalization 
Risk for Cardiovascular Disease Increased for Patients With Celiac Disease 
Emergency Diagnosis Linked to Worse Outcomes for Range of Conditions 
Non-Celiac Gluten/Wheat Sensitivity Self-Reported by 10.3 Percent 
Gluten-Stimulated Interleukin-2 Secretion Useful for Diagnosing Celiac Disease 
Gluten-Free Diet for Celiac Disease Increases Arsenic Exposure in Children 
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