The CVC is pleased to welcome Dr. Pishoy Gouda as an Associate Faculty Member. Dr. Gouda is an academic interventional cardiologist and assistant professor at the University of Alberta. He recently completed a clinical trials research fellowship at the Duke Clinical Research Institute, after developing strong collaborative ties with the CVC during his undergraduate, medical […]
A recent Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association provides a comprehensive overview of the evolution of critical care cardiology, with expert insights from researchers, including the CVC’s Dr. Sean van Diepen. The authors examine the cardiac intensive care unit, focusing on its organizational structure, staffing, and patient care. They also address key challenges in physician training and […]
The SODIUM-HF trial investigated if a low-sodium diet improved outcomes for heart failure (HF) patients more than a typical diet, ultimately finding no overall advantage. A recent secondary analysis of the study data was conducted to determine if certain patients benefited from this dietary intervention while others did not. Using a risk-based approach, researchers stratified patients into four groups […]
Are you an adult (18+) with type 1 diabetes (T1D), an adolescent (12-18) with T1D, or a caregiver of a child/adolescent (2-17) with T1D? If so, has it been at least 2 years since your diagnosis, or do you have at least 2 years of experience with the Alberta healthcare system? We need your voice! […]
While it is well known that COVID-19 can impact the heart’s muscle, less is understood about influenza’s potential for myocardial involvement. To explore this gap, a recent study led by the CVC’s Dr. Finlay McAlister investigated how often patients hospitalized with either influenza or COVID-19 showed elevated biomarkers and were diagnosed with new cardiac conditions. […]
For individuals diagnosed with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), a condition where the heart struggles to effectively pump blood, current guidelines recommend the use of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) to mitigate the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). While there is strong evidence supporting ICDs for ischemic HF (caused by reduced blood flow […]
For individuals managing high blood pressure, the optimal timing for medication—morning versus bedtime—has long lacked a definitive answer, with large clinical trials providing inconclusive findings. This uncertainty is compounded by theoretical concerns that bedtime dosing might lead to risks like glaucoma-related vision loss or other low blood flow and pressure problems. To address these critical […]
Although maternal asthma is a common chronic condition, affecting nearly 10% of pregnant women globally and a known risk factor for childhood asthma, the nuanced impact of different asthma types on newborn health remains understudied. To address this gap, a new study investigated the links between asthma diagnosis during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes like preterm birth, […]
Patients with pulmonary hypertension linked to left heart disease (PH-LHD) face significantly worse outcomes, including higher rates of death and hospitalization, even when receiving guideline-directed heart failure treatments. This underscores a critical unmet medical need within this specific heart failure population. AZD3427 is a new investigational drug that is a functionally selective, long-lasting mimetic of […]
The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) has been a key strategy for preventing sudden cardiac death (SCD) from ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VTAs). Current guidelines recommend prophylactic ICDs (also known as primary prevention ICDs) for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients, even without a history of VTA. However, these recommendations largely stem from clinical trials over two […]
Despite recent medical advancements, cardiogenic shock (CS), characterized by the heart’s failure to deliver enough blood and oxygen to critical organs, continues to have high mortality rates. Prior studies have revealed substantial variations in the delivery of therapeutic clinical care for CS across hospitals, underscoring the need for more robust evidence to guide routine practice. […]
Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of both death and illness and requires a considerable allocation of health care resources. In response to this issue, a coalition of leading Canadian cardiovascular organizations—including the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada, the Canadian Heart Failure Society, the HeartLife Foundation, and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society—launched a major […]
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a condition characterized by high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries that carry blood from the heart to the lungs. Recent advancements in PAH treatments, demonstrating significant physiological and clinical improvements, have generated interest in achieving long-term disease control and potentially disease modification. While the term “disease modification” is used […]
The HEART-FID trial, the largest study to date to investigate intravenous iron therapy in heart failure, compared ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) to a placebo in ambulatory patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction as well as iron deficiency. While the trial demonstrated a modest reduction in major clinical outcomes, including all-cause mortality, this difference was not statistically […]
The STREAM-1 trial demonstrated that full-dose tenecteplase (TNK) increased the risk of intracranial hemorrhage in elderly patients (≥75 years) with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), while a half-dose eliminated this risk. Subsequently, the STREAM-2 trial confirmed the efficacy and safety of half-dose TNK compared to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) in STEMI patients ≥60 years presenting within 3 hours of […]
While some studies point to a potential decline in chronic medication adherence during the COVID-19 pandemic, limited empirical evidence has been published to date. In order to address this gap, a recent CVC-led study examined whether the COVID-19 pandemic impacted adherence patterns in patients receiving chronic treatment with cardiovascular drugs. This retrospective study analyzed drug dispensation data […]
The VICTORIA trial established that vericiguat, in comparison to placebo, significantly reduced the risk of heart failure hospitalization or cardiovascular death in patients with worsening heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). This study, published in ESC Heart Failure, assessed how vericiguat performed in a group of VICTORIA trial participants with baseline characteristics similar to those in the PARADIGM-HF and DAPA-HF trials. […]
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a complex condition that often develops in people with multiple other health problems, and is believed to arise from a network of related systemic processes. While existing protein biomarkers for HFpEF exhibit diagnostic limitations, a comprehensive protein analysis approach, known as proteomics, has the potential to improve […]
Alirocumab is an injectable PCSK9 inhibitor that reduces the level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), commonly known as “bad” cholesterol. The ODYSSEY OUTCOMES trial demonstrated that, among patients with a recent acute coronary syndrome (ACS) receiving high-intensity statin therapy, alirocumab reduced the risk of recurrent ischemic cardiovascular events and lowered all-cause mortality. Using ODYSSEY OUTCOMES […]
We are pleased to share the 2024 Canadian VIGOUR Centre (CVC) Annual Report, “Research in Motion“. Just as a Rube Goldberg machine transforms a simple action into a complex and interconnected chain reaction, research is a dynamic interplay of innovation, collaboration, and discovery. The CVC is committed to advancing cardiovascular research, recognizing that each step in the process drives […]
