The COMPASS trial demonstrated that low-dose rivaroxaban with aspirin improved cardiovascular outcomes in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), a condition caused by plaque buildup on the artery walls. In a recent publication in Atherosclerosis, researchers evaluated the possible clinical implications of this therapeutic strategy in a population of Canadian patients with ASCVD. The study population was a retrospective […]
Congratulations to Principal Investigator Dr. Padma Kaul and her team of Co-Investigators (including the CVC’s Drs. Sunil Vasu Kalmady and Roopinder Sandhu) on receiving a Spring 2024 Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) grant for the Evaluating Community Gathered ECGs for Survival and Adverse Event Forecasting (ECG-SAFE) study. The electrocardiogram (ECG) is a common medical test that artificial intelligence […]
Coronary artery calcium (CAC) screening is a computed tomography (CT) scan of the heart that shows calcium buildup in the coronary arteries. This test provides a numbered score based on the amount of calcium present, with a higher score signifying a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). At present, CAC testing is not commonly used […]
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common abnormal heart rhythm disorder encountered in practice and it is responsible for considerable healthcare use and costs. Studies have shown that females with AF experience more symptoms, more functional impairment, and are more likely to suffer from AF-related clinical consequences compared to males. However, how these sex differences […]
Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) occurs when the left ventricle of the heart is unable to pump out blood effectively. Despite current treatment strategies, there continues to be a high risk of adverse outcomes for HFrEF patients, particularly those who have had a worsening heart failure (HF) event. The VICTORIA trial demonstrated that the drug […]
A study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine examined how running a sub-4 minute mile impacts longevity and healthy aging. The study was a collaborative undertaking between researchers in the U of A’s Faculty of Nursing, the HEART Laboratory at St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne, Australia, with methodological and analytical expertise […]
Developments in the field of heart failure have led to increased available therapies, including medications, devices, and patient-driven interventions such as exercise and diet. In a recent review published in Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases, researchers evaluated the current state of evidence for dietary sodium and fluid restriction, two common interventions for heart failure patients. Over the […]
Diuretics are drugs designed to help the kidney flush excess fluid from the body and are a key treatment strategy for heart failure patients with an overload of fluid. While diuretics are a mainstay in clinical practice, there are varying perspectives on which diuretics should be used and the appropriate dosage. Published in the European Journal […]
A recent study, published in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, examined whether rates of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a type of diabetes that emerges during pregnancy, and preeclampsia, a complication linked to high blood pressure that typically develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy, are on the rise. Both of these conditions can result in serious health […]
Dr. Padma Kaul received an Alberta Diabetes Institute (ADI) Catalyst Grant for the The Uptake of insuLin pump Therapy and Its outcoMes in Alberta (ULTIMA) study, which seeks to better understand the accessibility and long-term outcomes of insulin pump therapy (IPT) use in individuals with Type 1 diabetes mellitus in Alberta. IPT involves a wearable […]
A central goal in the management of heart failure (HF) is to improve patient health status and functional capacity, characterized by the ability to perform tasks and activities essential to day-to-day living. Two common tools used to measure health status and functional capacity in HF are the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire-Physical Limitation Score (KCCQ-PLS), a […]
We are pleased to share the 2023 Canadian VIGOUR Centre (CVC) annual report. The theme of the report—Building Blocks: Shaping Our Future—embodies the CVC’s commitment to generating new knowledge that will inform future directions of cardiovascular research in Canada and around the world. Our vision, mission, and core values are, in many ways, the foundational […]
Studies have demonstrated there is a correlation between iron deficiency (ID) and clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure, regardless of whether or not they have ID anemia (IDA). Treatment of ID in heart failure has been investigated in a number of recent trials (including AFFIRM-AHF, IRONMAN, and HEART-FID), and their findings have led to guidelines recommendations for […]
Empagliflozin, a medication used to manage and treat type 2 diabetes, is known to improve cardiovascular outcomes in patients with heart failure, chronic kidney disease, or type 2 diabetes with high cardiovascular risk. Published in the New England Journal of Medicine and simultaneously presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session in April […]
CSL112 is an apolipoprotein A1 (apoA-I) derived from human plasma, and is a component of high-density lipoprotein (HDL, known as the “good”) cholesterol. CSL112 removes plaque from the arteries, and helps facilitate the removal process (cholesterol efflux) of low-density lipoprotein (LDL, known as the “bad”) cholesterol from the body. Published in the New England Journal […]
On Monday, March 18th, 2024 The CVC Cardiovascular Health Foundation (CVCF) announced a $5-millon donation that will fund a new research chair in cardiovascular science in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry (FoMD). In addition to supporting critical advancements in research and health outcomes for patients, this initiative will foster collaborative engagement across disciplines within […]
Gestational diabetes (GDM) is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy, and although it generally resolves after delivery, it has been associated with long-term health issues for both mothers and their babies. Rates of GDM are rising globally. Current professional guidelines differ on how to best diagnose and treat GDM, which is in part […]
ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) occurs when a coronary artery is completely blocked. A known complication in approximately 6-10% of STEMI patients is cardiogenic shock, a condition that develops when the heart is unable to pump enough blood to the brain and other key organs in the body. The standard best practice approach for patients with […]
The CVC is pleased to welcome Dr. Jacob Udell as a Senior Associate Faculty Member. Dr. Udell is the Division Head of Cardiology at the Women’s College Hospital, and Director of the Peter Munk Clinical Trials and Translation Unit at Toronto General Hospital. He is also an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of […]
The COMPLETE trial demonstrated that a treatment strategy of staged complete revascularization, consisting of angiography-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI, a minimally invasive procedure to open a blocked artery) of all suitable nonculprit lesions, reduced the number of major cardiovascular (CV) events when compared to culprit-lesion-only PCI in STEMI patients with multivessel disease. In this subgroup analysis of the […]
