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 […]
CSL112, a plasma-derived apolipoprotein A1, is a component of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), also known as “good cholesterol”. CSL112 removes plaque from the arteries, and helps facilitate the removal process of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), the “bad cholesterol”, from the body. The AEGIS-II trial found that CSL112 did not significantly reduce recurrent cardiovascular events compared […]
Cardiogenic shock (CS) is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood and oxygen to the brain and other critical organs. While all CS patients experience low cardiac output and resulting end-organ hypoperfusion, data from registries and clinical trials reveal considerable variation in severity, underlying causes, volume status, and systemic vascular […]
Clinical trials in acute care settings, particularly those involving small populations or high mortality rates, face unique challenges in design and analysis. Co-authored by Drs. Fernando Zampieri and Justin Ezekowitz (University of Alberta), this review highlights innovative statistical methods and strategies to address these challenges, with an emphasis on cardiovascular therapies. The authors aim to guide researchers […]
Research from the STREAM-1 and STREAM-2 trials highlights the benefits of using half-dose tenecteplase, a clot-busting drug used to prevent death, for treating elderly patients (aged ≥75 years) with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). STREAM-1 found that full-dose tenecteplase increased the risk of intracranial hemorrhage in this age group, while halving the dose eliminated this risk. STREAM-2 confirmed that […]
Heart failure (HF) continues to be a significant global health challenge, contributing to high rates of morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Patients who seek care in the emergency department (ED) or are hospitalized for HF face a greater risk of future adverse events, but accurately assessing and categorizing their risk level remains a complex task. […]
Heart failure is common in patients with kidney failure undergoing dialysis, but it is often difficult to distinguish from other conditions with similar symptoms, such as volume overload. For this reason, it is critically important to have standardized diagnostic criteria in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in order to accurately assess treatment effects. In a recent […]
ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) occurs when a coronary artery is completely blocked and is the most severe type of heart attack. The STREAM-2 study evaluated the safety of a pharmacoinvasive treatment with half-dose tenecteplase, a clot-busting drug used to prevent death, in STEMI patients aged 60 and older who presented within 3 hours of symptom onset, and […]
