Expanded TAVR Coverage; Point-of-Care Troponins; 90-Year-Olds and PCI

CMS expanded access to transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Gone is the Coverage with Evidence Development (CED) requirement for symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS), and newly in place is coverage for asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis with CED, among other changes in the updated national coverage determination.

The American Heart Association announced that the PREVENT risk equations have been integrated into Epic’s electronic health record platform.

In a nationally representative sample, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein rose stepwise across cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic staging. (European Journal of Preventive Cardiology)

The FDA gave Powerful Medical’s Queen of Hearts ECG analyzer de novo authorization for the detection of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and STEMI equivalents in patients with suspected heart attacks. (Medical Device Network)

Point-of-care troponins and the HEART score enabled emergency services to identify non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome, according to the available evidence. (Heart)

For some heart attack patients in their 90s, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) could be performed safely in carefully selected individuals, a Dutch high-volume center found. (Clinical Cardiology)

A novel left atrial staging system in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy describes typical changes preceding the development of atrial fibrillation. (Journal of the American College of Cardiology)

Researchers couldn’t find evidence that sex modified the beneficial effects of catheter ablation in those with atrial fibrillation and left ventricular systolic dysfunction. (JAMA Cardiology)

People genetically vulnerable to developing sustained ventricular arrhythmias did not end up actually harmed by engaging in strength-based exercise. (JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology)

Transcarotid artery revascularization appeared similarly effective to carotid artery stenting for the prevention of stroke in people with asymptomatic carotid stenosis, real-world records suggest. (Stroke)

Exercise stress echocardiography missed the mark as a non-invasive test for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. (European Heart Journal)

Scientists identified a new mechanism of SGLT2 inhibitor-mediated cardiovascular benefit: Empagliflozin (Jardiance) induced a coordinated metabolic reprogramming in monocytes and reduced proinflammatory monocyte-platelet aggregates. (Circulation)

A 24-year-old mukbang (eating video) influencer died of cardiac arrest, having previously acknowledged a longtime habit of vomiting the food she consumed. (People)