ACC: American College of Cardiology

The 2013 guideline update from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association drew criticism when it was presented. Data presented in today's poster session at the ACC Scientific Session revealed unexpected results.

The half-day program covered healthy eating, how to prescribe exercise, evidence about stress reduction, and other lifestyle topics, as part of the American College of Cardiology's focus on prevention.

Greetings from First Lady Michelle Obama and a lecture from a non-cardiologist on population health set the stage for the 65th Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology. Prevention is the focus of this year's meeting.

Results from the HOPE-3 trial, presented on the opening day of the 65th Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology, suggest cholesterol-lowering statins could have preventive benefits in broader groups of patients than previously thought.

The Cardio-Oncology Intensive during the Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology reflects the increased need for improved diagnostic tools and cardioprotective strategies as cancer patients live longer. Besides a second malignancy, heart disease accounts for most morbidity and death in cancer survivors.

A study that combined socioeconomic data and hospital-level data on quality care after myocardial infarction showed that hospitals that serve the poorest Americans adhere to high standards, but patient outcomes do not always reflect that high-quality acute care.

The study drug, Bendavia, was developed to improve mitochondrial response when oxygen returns to the tissue affected by a heart attack. Results showed some improvement, but not at levels that were statistically significant.

Patients in the study were given support through a weight loss clinic for a 4-year period. Those who had sustained weight lost and did not let their weight fluctuate were most likely to have arrythmia-free survival.

Amgen's cholesterol-fighting PCSK9 inhibitor was shown to reduce the likelihood that patients would suffer cardiovascular events. The question now is whether FDA will grant approval soon and how widely the drug will be used, given speculation about its cost.

Identifying which patients with diabetes will develop heart disease is not as straightforward as it might seem. This session explored the use of biomarkers, imaging, and how a population health-based model will do a better job of identifying women at risk.

Cardiologists treat patients who are older, sicker, and more reliant on Medicare. That means they must pay attention to new payment models from CMS that reduce reliance on fee-for-service and increase the presence of accountable care organizations.

Results from a study of long-term use of this dual anti-platelet therapy suggest patients may be able to switch to a 60 mg dose at the 1 year mark after a heart attack, rather than 90 mg.

A head-to-head comparison found patients receiving heart CT scans fared about as well as those receiving a variety of functional tests, although CT did a better job of identifying those who needed follow-up procedures. The study's lead author predicts a change in clinical guidelines, although critics question whether patients should receive so much radiation.

For Peter Libby, MD, chief of cardiology at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, the rewards of a life in clinical research outweigh the risks.

Metformin, the go-to drug for patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), may help control glycated hemoglobin (A1C) levels, but it does not help prevent heart failure in heart attack patients who do not have the disease, according to a new study from the Netherlands.

Bariatric surgery has more powerful long-term effects on controlling type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) that medical therapy alone, according to the largest, long-term study comparing methods.

Should patients with moderately elevated levels of triglycerides be treated, even while cardiologists await the results of a trial that may provide a definitive answer?

The triple aim promised by healthcare reform-better quality care, greater patient satisfaction, at a lower cost-will play out procedure by procedure, as physicians find ways to deliver better care and find savings.

Evidence linking sugar-sweetened sodas to cardiovascular damage has been the subject of studies presented by the American Diabetes Association and even on 60 Minutes. Now, diet sodas are getting their turn.

Wendell Primus, PhD, the veteran legislative aide for US House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-California, got right to the point when he asked those gathered for the 63rd Scientific Sessions of the American College of Cardiologists if, so far, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was helping them, as opposed to their patients.

From a session called How to Navigate the Maze of Pharmacotherapy in Diabetes? to oral abstracts and posters, the relationship between cardiac risks and rising incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus received plenty of attention Saturday at the 63rd Scientific Sessions of the American College of Cardiology, being held in Washington, DC.

Results from 3 phase 3 studies unveiled Saturday showed that investigational treatment for hyperlipidemia, evolocumab, significantly lowered low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, that the results were sustained over time, and that the drug was well-tolerated without neurological side effects that are of concern to US Food and Drug Administration.

The electronic health record (EHR) has been touted as a tool that has the power to improve the quality of patient care, reduce costs, and improve overall efficiency in healthcare. At this year's American College of Cardiology 62nd Annual Scientific Session and Expo, information was presented from a study challenging that long-held belief.

Frederick Masoudi, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Colorado, says there has been an increase in focus on outcomes. They allow for systems accountability and focus on patient care.

One of the more popular sessions at this year's American College of Cardiology 62nd Annual Scientific Session and Expo featured a discussion on regulatory oversight and the need for better protection of patients' interests.

Peter Berger, MD, Chairman of Cardiology and Co-Director of the Geisinger Heart & Vascular Institute, Director, Cardiovascular Center for Clinical Research at Geisinger Clinic, thinks the biggest challenges that physicians face when treating patients with acute coronary syndrome is individualizing treatment for patients.

Jeffrey Berger, MD, Assistant Professor, NYU Langone Medical Center, says that improving adherence of therapies in patients with acute coronary syndrome is a major goal.

Childhood obesity is an epidemic in the United States, and one that not only endangers the health of children, but also costs our healthcare system a great deal of time, money, and resources when considering the comorbid conditions that often present as a result.

Michael Farkouh, MD, Director of Clinical Trials and Associate Professor of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, says that there are many strategies to both prevent and control diabetes mellitus, but he notes that obesity prevention is key.

The American College of Cardiology 62nd Annual Scientific Session & Expo featured a daylong program on advances in pharmacology. One session in particular, "Pharmacologic Considerations with the New Oral Anticoagulants," focused on the importance of individualized therapy when it comes to selecting antithrombotic therapy for atrial fibrillation.