Browse Cardiology General Articles by Topic

Comparing CT Angiography to Invasive Angiography for Stable Chest Pain Patients

A trial of initial coronary CT angiography vs. invasive angiography revealed outcomes over a median 3.5-year follow-up were similar, but procedure-related complications were more common in the invasive group.

Is the Canadian Syncope Risk Score Valid?

Researchers found the Canadian Syncope Risk Score accurately predicts which patients are low risk for discharge. However, since it is driven largely by the physician’s final risk classification at ED discharge, the score’s clinical utility is uncertain.

Smoking Cessation After Atrial Fibrillation Diagnosis Could Lower Dementia Risk

A cohort study of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) in South Korea revealed patients who stopped smoking after AF diagnosis were at lower risk for developing dementia than those who continued smoking.

Researchers Suggest Checking Blood Pressure in Both Arms

After taking two readings, use the higher measurement for diagnosis. Guidelines recommend this practice, but data were lacking.

Cardiac Xenotransplantation Could Fill the Organ Donor Gap, But Is It Ethical?

There are not enough organs for heart failure patients who need them, and cardiac xenotransplantation is one potential, albeit controversial, solution.

Echocardiographic Assessment of Right Ventricular Function

A study of a cardiac resynchronization therapy registry demonstrated right ventricular free wall strain by speckle tracking 2D echocardiography is more sensitive for detecting right ventricular dysfunction vs. other echo measures of right ventricular function.

Measure Stroke Risk with Asymptomatic Severe Carotid Artery Stenosis

A community-based, retrospective, observational study of patients with asymptomatic severe carotid artery stenoses showed the crude stroke risk over five years was about 5%. Patients whose stenoses progress to high grade or start at that severity were at the highest risk for stroke.

Reducing the Need for Invasive Coronary Angiography Before TAVR

Among those undergoing evaluation for transcatheter aortic valve replacement, coronary CT angiography and CT-derived fractional flow reserve demonstrated good diagnostic performance, potentially preventing invasive coronary angiography for many patients.

Rivaroxaban Monotherapy for Atrial Fibrillation in Coronary Artery Disease Patients

For patients with atrial fibrillation and stable coronary artery disease, rivaroxaban monotherapy was superior to dual therapy for preventing thrombotic and bleeding events and was associated with a lower mortality.

The Value of Stress Testing in Patients with Known Coronary Artery Disease

A comparison of adenosine stress singe photon emission CT, PET, and MRI in stable patients with known coronary artery disease (CAD) showed PET to be more sensitive for detecting invasive fractional flow reserve-identified ischemic lesions. However, the sensitivity was disappointing; thus, patients with known CAD and new symptoms should be referred directly to invasive coronary angiography.