Clinical Cardiology Alert – October 1, 2024

Poor Diabetes Control Associated with Poorer Coronary Stent Outcomes

In this large, observational study of diabetic patients with coronary stents, poorer glycemic control as measured by hemoglobin A1c was associated with stepwise hazard for stent failure over a period of more than six years, primarily driven by in-stent restenosis.

Antithrombotic Treatment for Atrial Fibrillation After Acute Coronary Events

An analysis of the AUGUSTUS trial comparing a P2Y12 inhibitor plus four combinations of double or triple therapy with apixaban, aspirin, and a vitamin K antagonist in patients with atrial fibrillation and a recent acute coronary event or percutaneous coronary intervention has shown that a P2Y12 inhibitor plus apixaban exhibited the lowest rate of major adverse events and major bleeding events.

Clarifying the Risk of Aortic Aneurysm Development

A large, cross-sectional study of adults by aortic computed tomography angiography has shown that aortic aneurysms (AAs) are more frequent in men than women. While increasing age and body surface area were common risk factors for AA, hypertension was associated with thoracic AA and hypercholesterolemia and smoking were risk factors for abdominal AA.

Marantic Endocarditis Revisited

A single institution case series of cancer-associated thrombotic endocarditis has shown that it most frequently presents as a systemic embolism and is detected largely by transesophageal echocardiography, which displays mobile masses attached to thickened mitral and aortic valves.

How Old Is Atherosclerosis?

Computed tomography of mummified human remains exhibits vascular calcium in almost 40% across multiple eras and geographies, which included <br />non-elites.