JACC This Week

In this episode, Valentin Fuster reviews the September 17, 2024, JACC issue, highlighting pivotal studies on metabolic surgery's impact on cardiovascular risk in obstructive sleep apnea patients, and the potential of DPP-4 inhibitors in aortic valve calcification. He also discusses the benefits of Sitagliptin for heart failure and the prognostic value of plasma immunoglobulins in pulmonary arterial hypertension, closing with a look at genotype-guided antiplatelet therapy.

In this episode of JACC, Valentin Fuster examines genotype-guided antiplatelet therapy, emphasizing its potential to tailor treatments based on genetic variants for improved patient outcomes. While promising, the approach faces challenges like testing delays and variable patient responses that need addressing for broader implementation.

Dr. Marcus Anker, presenting at ESC, discussed the RESHAPE HF2 trial's findings on transcatheter edge-to-edge repair for secondary mitral regurgitation, published in JACC with Aakriti Gupta, MD, FACC, JACC Executive Associate Editor.

Xiaoxi Yao, MPH, MS, PhD, FACC, JACC Associate Editor, interviews Renato Lopes, MD, PhD, FACC, author of the GUARD-AF trial published in JACC and presented at ESC Congress 2024.

Michelle M. Kittleson, MD, PhD, FACC, JACC Associate Editor and John A. Spertus, MD, MPH, FACC discuss the evaluation of the cardiac myosin inhibitor, aficamten, on patient-reported health status in patients with symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) as part of the SEQUOIA trial. The study utilized the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) Overall Summary Score (OSS) and the Seattle Angina Questionnaire to assess the broader impact of the disease and treatment on patients' lives, emphasizing symptoms, function, and quality of life. The findings highlight the significance of these tools in capturing meaningful patient outcomes, beyond traditional physiological measures, which can guide clinicians in counseling HCM patients about treatment expectations. The rapid decline in health status after discontinuation of aficamten underscores its potential importance in managing HCM.

Michelle M. Kittleson, MD, PhD, FACC, JACC Associate Editor and John A. Spertus, MD, MPH, FACC discuss the evaluation of the cardiac myosin inhibitor, aficamten, on patient-reported health status in patients with symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) as part of the SEQUOIA trial. The study utilized the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) Overall Summary Score (OSS) and the Seattle Angina Questionnaire to assess the broader impact of the disease and treatment on patients' lives, emphasizing symptoms, function, and quality of life. The findings highlight the significance of these tools in capturing meaningful patient outcomes, beyond traditional physiological measures, which can guide clinicians in counseling HCM patients about treatment expectations. The rapid decline in health status after discontinuation of aficamten underscores its potential importance in managing HCM.

In the September 10, 2024, issue of JACC, Dr. Valentin Fuster highlights groundbreaking research on lipid exposure in early adulthood and its link to later cardiovascular events, the importance of early and serial assessments in cardiogenic shock, and the impact of triglyceride levels on cardiovascular outcomes with alirocumab. He also discusses the association between postnatal opioid exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants undergoing cardiac surgery, alongside a brief update on the long-term benefits of Mercantor in obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

In the September 10, 2024, JACC issue, Dr. Valentin Fuster highlights a pivotal study showing that a single cholesterol measurement in young adults can predict future cardiovascular risk with remarkable accuracy. He underscores the need for early lipid screening and novel long-acting treatments to improve long-term cardiovascular health, stressing that early intervention is crucial for preventing future heart disease.

In the September 10, 2024, JACC issue, Dr. Valentin Fuster discusses a pivotal study on cardiogenic shock, revealing that early and frequent reassessment within the first 24 hours is crucial for predicting patient outcomes. The study underscores the critical nature of early intervention and highlights the rapid progression seen in many patients, emphasizing the need for timely and continuous monitoring to improve survival rates.

In this September 10th, 2024 issue of Jack, Dr. Michael Ogburn's study highlights a troubling association between high postnatal opioid exposure and poorer neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants who have undergone cardiac surgery. Despite careful adjustments for confounding factors, increased opioid use was linked to significant deficits in cognitive, language, and motor skills, emphasizing the need for stricter protocols and alternative pain management strategies in pediatric cardiac care.