Category: Cardiovascular

From Indiana Regional Medical Center (IRMC) The American Heart Association presents the Get With The Guidelines awards for proven dedication to best practices and life-saving care Indiana Regional Medical Center (IRMC) has received two American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines achievement awards for demonstrating commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of stroke, ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer readmissions to the hospital. Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke or heart attack, and heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 5 causes of death in the United States, respectively. Studies show patients can recover better when providers consistently follow treatment guidelines. Get With The Guidelines put the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest evidence- and research-based guidelines. As a participant in Get With The Guidelines program, Indiana Regional Medical Center qualified for the awards by demonstrating how their organization has committed to improving quality care. “IRMC is committed to improving care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines and streamlining processes to ensure timely and proper care for strokes,” noted Steve Wolfe, IRMC President & CEO. “The Get With The Guidelines programs make it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which helps us ensure more people in the communities we serve are able to experience longer, healthier lives.” This year, IRMC’s Primary Stroke Center received these achievement awards:• Stroke Silver Plus with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll “We are pleased to recognize IRMC for its commitment to caring for those in their community who need cardiovascular care,” said John Warner, M.D., FAHA, past president of the American Heart Association and CEO of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. “Hospitals that follow the American Heart Association’s quality improvement protocols often see improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a win for health care systems, families and communities.” .

“Lead Edge Capital’s investment propels our strategic vision and growth trajectory, allowing us to rapidly scale our presence, expand our product portfolio, and deliver flexible solutions to more healthcare institutions,” Tripp Higgins, CEO and co-founder of PaceMate, said in a prepared statement. “As the pioneer in cardiac remote monitoring, we are elevating cardiac digital healthcare with data-rich and interoperable environments, integrating essential patient data in real-time to enhance efficiency and patient outcomes.” “PaceMate delivers a powerful set of solutions focused on improving patient care and outcomes within the cardiac disease segment,” added Brian Neider, a partner with Lead Edge Capital. “Over the past several years, the company has worked tirelessly to deliver superior technology, service, and a level of care which has been unparalleled within the market. We are thrilled to partner with Tripp and the team on PaceMate’s next phase of growth.” Financial terms of the investment have not been made available at this time. Click here for more coverage of PaceMate’s cardiac remote monitoring technology.

image: Arterial stiffness may cause premature cardiac damage in youth, but decreasing blood pressure and insulin resistance may reduce this effect by fifty percent. view more Credit: Andrew Agbaje. Arterial stiffness is a novel cause of premature heart damage among adolescents, according to a new follow-up study. The study was conducted in collaboration between Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine in the US, the University of Bristol in the UK, the University of Exeter in the UK, and the University of Eastern Finland, and the results were published in Atherosclerosis. Left ventricular hypertrophy and left diastolic dysfunction are measures of structural and functional heart damage, which have been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular-related death in adults. These cardiac measures are also used in the paediatric population as indicators of premature heart damage. Arterial stiffness estimated from carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity has been discovered as a novel cause of increased blood pressure, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome in adolescents and young adults. It was also recently shown that increased blood pressure in adolescence may cause premature heart damage, but it is not known whether arterial stiffness could independently cause structural and functional damage to the heart. The current study was conducted among 1,856 adolescents of whom 1,011 were female. The adolescents were 17 years old at baseline, and they were followed up for 7 years until young adulthood at age 24 years. Arterial stiffness, carotid intima-media thickness, and evidence of heart damage were assessed at baseline and follow-up. Signs of heart structure damage are left ventricular hypertrophy and high relative wall thickness, whereas signs of heart function damage are left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and increased left ventricular filling pressure. During the 7-year follow-up period, the prevalence of heart structural damage among adolescents doubled. With extensive control for fat mass, muscle mass, glucose, insulin, blood pressure, lipids, smoking status, sedentary time, physical activity, socio-economic status, and family history of cardiovascular disease, and using adults’ cut points for diagnosing heart damage, it was observed that adolescents in the highest tertile category of arterial stiffness and carotid intima-media thickness had a 23 – 27% increased risk of progressively worsening structural heart damage. Only arterial stiffness appears to independently cause both structural and functional heart damage, whereas increased carotid wall thickness does not seem to have a causal role. Increased carotid wall thickness is an early indicator of atherosclerosis, whereas increased arterial stiffness describes arteriosclerosis. The study further reported that arterial stiffness caused heart damage by increasing blood pressure and insulin resistance. The increase in blood pressure explained 34% of the heart damage caused by arterial stiffness. Moreover, insulin resistance explained 15% of the heart damage caused by arterial stiffness. “We are seeing for the first time that arterial stiffness is a novel cause of several diseases such as hypertension, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and heart damage in the young population. Among adults, arterial stiffness is currently being established as a cause of type 2 diabetes. We discovered that approximately 50% of the deleterious role of arterial stiffness in causing heart damage is enhanced by the mechanism of increased blood pressure and insulin resistance. Thus, preventing and lowering blood pressure and insulin resistance may potentially diminish the negative impact of arterial stiffness on the heart, by up to half,” says Andrew Agbaje, a physician and clinical epidemiologist at the University of Eastern Finland. “Experimental and clinical intervention studies are urgently needed on comprehensive approaches to treating and reversing arterial stiffness from adolescence. At least, targeting blood pressure and insulin resistance leaves the problem half-solved,” Agbaje continues. Dr Agbaje’s research group (urFIT-child) is supported by research grants from Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation, the Finnish Cultural Foundation Central Fund, the Finnish Cultural Foundation North Savo Regional Fund, the Orion Research Foundation, the Aarne Koskelo Foundation, the Antti and Tyyne Soininen Foundation, the Paulo Foundation, the Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation, the Paavo Nurmi Foundation, the Finnish Foundation for Cardiovascular Research, Ida Montin Foundation, Eino Räsänen Fund, Matti and Vappu Maukonen Fund, and the Foundation for Pediatric Research. Journal Atherosclerosis Article Title Arterial Stiffness but not Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Progression Precede Premature Structural and Functional Cardiac Damage in Youth: A 7-Year Temporal and Mediation Longitudinal Study. Article Publication Date 3-Aug-2023 Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.

How is your heart health? The cardiovascular system endures a ton of stress from our environment and experience, resulting in elevated stress levels in the modern world. Cardio FLEX Reviews So, it’s unsurprising that more than 122 million Americans live with high blood pressure. According to a 2023 report from the American Heart Association, almost half of all American adults live with this disorder. Moreover, most Americans admit they don’t know the normal range for healthy blood pressure. ADVERTISEMENT Also known as “hypertension,” most people know this condition by its other moniker, “the silent killer.” That’s because we don’t notice an increase in blood pressure until it reaches dangerous levels. High blood pressure can have a dramatic adverse impact on your cardiovascular health. You’re predisposed to heart attacks and strokes that could kill you or leave you physically and mentally impaired for the rest of your life. PLR-15 – The Stress Hormone that Destroys Heart Health Recent scientific research should cause alarm for anyone interested in improving their heart health. A 2022 study by Mayo Clinic involved 450,000 male and female participants aged 35 to 85 years old. The study was the first of its kind, including people from all walks of life. Most participants were coping with the effects of hypertension (high blood pressure) in their life. The scale of the problem ranged from people with mild effects to those with dangerously high blood pressure levels, using medications to manage their condition. The research shocked the medical community. According to the study, the difference between participants with high blood pressure and those in the normal range was an increase in the presence of the “PLR-15” stress hormone. Those with hypertension issues had more of this hormone circulating in their bloodstream. The study shows PLR-15 is 400% more present and active in people dealing with hypertension than those with healthy blood pressure levels. PLR-15 is one of six stress hormones affecting the body. Cortisol and adrenaline are examples of other stress hormones that initiate the “fight-or-flight” response. Stress hormones like PLR-15 and cortisol increase blood pressure to help you escape a dangerous situation. However, in today’s society, these hormones experience increases in production when we deal with a stressful environment. As a result, we end up with anxiety disorders and sub-optimal heart health. The PLR-15 stress hormone is becoming more prevalent in younger generations. Being plugged into toxic social media wars, pressure at work, and hectic home life all contribute to the overproduction of stress hormones and the onset of anxiety disorders. The sympathetic nervous system that controls the fight-or-flight response can’t tell the difference between the stress of losing your job or arguing about a parking spot at the mall. As a result, levels of the PLR-15 hormone increase, adversely affecting your cardiovascular health. As a result, the arteries firm and harden with plaque, causing scarring on the inside. This decrease in cardiovascular health makes you more at risk of enduring a heart attack or stroke as you age. Introducing CardioFLEX – The 10-Second Ritual to Better Cardiovascular Health What if there was a way to improve heart health naturally without relying on medications? To keep yourself out of the doctor’s office, supplement withCardioFLEX. As mentioned, the PLR-15 hormone has a devastating effect on the cardiovascular system. However, the overabundance of PLR-15 in the blood also affects other vital organs. For instance, PLR clogs up the kidneys, leading to sub-optimal filtration and more toxins circulating in the bloodstream that cause disease. PLR-15 can also affect the eyes, leading to premature macular degeneration. That means you must visit the optometrist more frequently to change your prescription. The relationship between PLR-15 and poor cardiovascular health is well documented. Higher PLR-15 levels mean you’re at risk of developing hypertension and a hardening of your arteries. If you feel high blood pressure and hypertension symptoms, you’ll visit your doctor for a diagnosis. The physician takes your blood pressure and asks questions about your health and lifestyle. They’ll prescribe blood pressure medicine to help you manage your condition. However, the issue with this approach is that it doesn’t stop the cause of the problem – too many PLR-15 hormones circulating in your bloodstream. You experience temporary relief, and your blood pressure settles into the normal range. However, as soon as you stop taking the medication, the problem returns. That’s because the drugs don’t do anything to reduce the presence of PLR-15 in the bloodstream. What if there was a natural way to reduce levels of PLR-15 without visiting your doctor for a prescription? CardioFLEX offers you the solution you need to better cardiovascular health. Try CardioFLEX today and see the difference! What are the All-Natural Ingredients Found in CardioFLEX? This science-backed supplement features formulation with nine clinically proven ingredients designed to lower PLR-15 production. Combining heart-healthy ingredients reduces the risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes, optimizing circulation through the cardiovascular system. Unlike medications that can leave you feeling terrible, CardioFLEX is a natural formulation that gives your body the raw materials needed to stop hypertension and safeguard your cardiovascular system. Here is a breakdown of the ingredients profile in CardioFLEX and the benefits they offer your cardiovascular system. Papaya Fruit Lowers levels of the PLR-15 hormone. Reduces heart disease risk. Regulates blood glucose levels. Psyllium Powder Lowers levels of the PLR-15 hormone. Improves digestion and blood flow. Reduces the risk of developing heart disease. CardioFLEX Is On Sale Now For A Limited Time! Acai Berry Lowers levels of the PLR-15 hormone. Regulates blood glucose and insulin sensitivity. Enhances immune function. Slippery Elm Bark Lowers levels of the PLR-15 hormone. Improves biome health and optimizes digestion. Rejuvenates nails and skin. Inulin Lowers levels of the PLR-15 hormone. Prebiotic fiber for optimal biome health. Improves weight loss results. Chlorella Lowers levels of the PLR-15 hormone. Promotes growth of hair and nails. Lowers LDL cholesterol and overall lipids in the blood. Hyssop Leaf Lowers levels of the PLR-15 hormone. Improves circulation. 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Share on PinterestMaking up for insufficient weeknight sleep during the weekend may not lessen its cardiovascular impact. Image credit: Maria Korneeva/Getty Images. A new study found that when sleep is restricted to 5 hours per night, heart rate and blood pressure worsen over the course of the week in young men. Researchers found that attempting to get extra sleep over the 2 nights of the weekend may be insufficient to dial back the hits to an individual’s cardiovascular health. Researchers measured participants’ heart rate and blood pressure multiple times throughout the day. The participants’ heart rates and systolic blood pressure changed with each day of too little sleep and did not return to baseline by the end of the recovery period. A third of adults in the United States report getting less than the recommended amount of sleep, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A new study led by researchers at Penn State suggests that when sleep is restricted during the work week, it may impact an individual’s heart rate and systolic blood pressure. Additionally, the research suggests attempts to catch up on sleep over the weekend may not be enough to bring back cardiovascular health back to baseline. The research was published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine. An interest in the effects of sleep on cardiovascular health drove David Reichenberger, a graduate student in biobehavioral health at Penn State, to design this study. For the research, he used data sourced by Dr. Anne-Marie Chang, associate professor of biobehavioral health at Penn State, who had conducted an 11-day inpatient sleep study a few years ago. For the study, participants went from sleeping up to 10 hours a night to being restricted to 5 hours a night over 5 nights. “I just really wanted to see what are the effects during this potential work week on someone’s blood pressure and heart rate,” Reichenberger explained to Medical News Today. Researchers recruited 15 healthy men between the ages of 20 and 35 who lived in Pennsylvania. They excluded participants who had medical or mental health diagnoses, took medicine or drugs, had a recent history of shift work, or had traveled across more than two time zones within the previous three months. Participants were also excluded if during a screening, they showed risk factors of cardiovascular disease. Prior to the study, participants met with a psychologist who determined whether they were likely to be able to tolerate 11 days of inpatient study. For a week before patients came to the Clinical Research Center at Penn State to complete the study they were asked to be in bed from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. and asked to keep a log of sleep and wake times. At the research center, participants stayed in private rooms that were sound-dampened with no windows. During scheduled wake periods, participants were not allowed to sit on lay on the bed or to exercise. Researchers exposed participants to low lighting during wake periods and darkness during sleep opportunities. A dietician designed a menu of weighed foods, which were limited in sodium, that provided three meals a day. On the first three nights of the study, participants could sleep between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. On the fourth night, participants could sleep between 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. This continued for 5 consecutive nights. “And so this is really simulating an adult’s work week,” Reichenberger told MNT. “They may be self-restricting their sleep, just to go to bed later or get up earlier for work.” On the final two nights, participants again could sleep between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. Approximately every 2 hours during the day, researchers measured the participants’ resting heart rates and blood pressure. Researchers found that the participants’ heart rate increased by nearly one beat per minute (BPM) with each day of the study. The average baseline heart rate of participants was 69 BPM. Following the participants’ second night of recovery sleep, the average heart rate of participants was still 78 BPM. Additionally, researchers found participants’ systolic blood pressure increased by about 0.5 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) per day. The average baseline SBP was 116 mmHg. Following the participants’ second day of recovery sleep, the average SBP was 119.5 mmHg. Researchers measured no significant impact of sleep on the participants’ diastolic blood pressure. “We weren’t surprised to find out that sleep restrictions [have] an effect on cardiac outcomes: blood pressure, heart rate,” Dr. Chang, a co-author of the study, told MNT. “But what surprised me perhaps was that when you allow for recovery sleep […] that the results showed those impairments or increases on the blood pressure and heart rate didn’t return really to baseline level.” – Dr. Anne-Marie Chang The researchers believe their study is unique because they measured participants’ heart rate and blood pressure multiple times throughout the day for the duration of the study. Other studies, Reichenberger told MNT, might take the measurements at a certain time each day or use equipment that takes the measures continuously. “With more measurements, we have more of an ability to detect whether there’s an effect of the restricted sleep on blood pressure,” he said. “We can account for the timing of measurements more easily that way. So looking at, let’s say, 8 measurements versus 1 measurement during a day, you can get an indication of how blood pressure and heart rate may change across the day and you can account for that in your statistical analyses,” Reichenberger added. The researchers noted in their paper that other studies, including one published in PLOS ONE in 2009, measured SBP one time each day and found no increase in SBP during sleep restriction. Dr. Hani Aiash, a cardiologist and assistant dean of interprofessional research in the College of Health Professions at Upstate Medical University, not involved in this research, pointed out several limitations of the study to MNT. A key shortcoming of the research, he said, is that the study did not have a control group.

New Delhi: Blockbuster diabetes drug semaglutide, frequently prescribed for weight loss in the United States, can significantly lower the risk of cardiovascular events and related deaths, a new trial has found. In a statement issued last week, Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk — which manufactures and distributes various versions of semaglutide — declared that results from its ‘SELECT’ cardiovascular outcomes trial have shown that a 2.4 mg dose of the drug can reduce major heart-related events by up to 20 percent. The company told ThePrint via email that it has only announced its main findings for now. “The full study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal before year-end,” it said. Show Full Article In the US, 2.4 mg strength of semaglutide — a weekly injection — is sold by Novo Nordisk under the brand name Wegovy and is prescribed for obesity and weight loss even to people without diabetes. The drug is prescribed in a lower dose to treat diabetes. Semaglutide belongs to a class of medicine that works by attaching itself to receptors of gut hormones and leads to delayed gastric emptying — the slowing or stopping of the movement of food from the stomach to the small intestine. The drug has shown to cause improved insulin secretion while reducing appetite — a key reason why it is prescribed for obesity. Although not available in India, semaglutide in the injectible form can be imported and costs between Rs 12,000 and 20,000 a month. In India, a version of the drug is marketed under the brand name Rybelsus. This is, however, a lower dosage and is available in the form of pills. Buoyed by its new findings, Novo Nordisk has said it now expects to file for regulatory approvals of a indication expansion for Wegovy — that is, expanding the drug’s use in applications other than the one it was originally intended for — in the US and the European Union this year. A controversy broke out over the use of semaglutide just last month. In its report on 25 July, CNN quoted some women in the US as claiming to have developed gastroparesis or stomach paralysis — a disorder that affects the normal movement of the stomach muscles — after having used the drug for diabetes and weight loss for several years. According to doctors ThePrint spoke to, the Novo Nordisk trial shows promise for a country like India, which has a high burden of cardiovascular diseases. A study conducted by researchers associated with the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), published in The Lancet this year, showed that a whopping 35.5 percent Indians have hypertension and 24 percent suffer from hypercholesterolaemia — a condition in which fat collects in arteries and puts individuals at greater risk of heart attack and stroke. Also Read: What is prediabetes? Condition affecting ‘136 mn in India’ is a risk factor for heart attacks & strokes ‘Encouraging results’ According to the Novo Nordisk press statement, “SELECT was a randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial designed to evaluate the efficacy of semaglutide 2.4 mg versus placebo” among people who were overweight or obese and had established cardiovascular disease with no prior history of diabetes. The trial had enrolled 17,604 such adults aged 45 years or older. The patients were assessed for a period of five years, beginning 2018, the statement said. “People living with obesity have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease but to date, there are no approved weight management medications proven to deliver effective weight management while also reducing the risk of heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular death,” the statement quoting Martin Holst Lange, executive vice-president for development at Novo Nordisk, read, calling it a “landmark” trial. Diabetologists and medical experts in India say this is encouraging, although some have advised caution. Doctors told ThePrint that nausea, bloating, vomiting and diarrhoea are known side-effects of semaglutide, but added they had not yet seen stomach paralysis like the cases reported by CNN. “Semaglutide, a runaway success, is an established powerful agent for controlling diabetes and obesity (in higher strength) and has been a runaway success,” Dr V. Mohan, a diabetologist from Chennai, told ThePrint. Dr Mohan is one of the founders of Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, which conducted the study published in The Lancet last month. The additional benefit of reducing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is welcome “but not entirely unexpected since the drug limits insulin resistance and controls obesity”, Dr Mohan added. “The fact that this is now being proven in a randomised clinical trial that is well-powered adds to the growing body of evidence supporting the use of once-weekly Semaglutide.” A “well-powered” study is a well-designed study with robust intervention and control arms and strong results. According to Dr Mohan, the additional benefit of reducing CVD risk would make the drug “highly advantageous to Indians who are more prone to these diseases”, adding that the drug is eagerly awaited here. However, Dr Ashish Govil, a senior consultant in the department of interventional cardiology at Noida’s Jaypee Hospital, was more cautious about the trial results, saying that the drug should be used strictly under a physician’s supervision. “It’s worth noting that while semaglutide shows promise, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution,” he said. (Edited by Uttara Ramaswamy) Also Read: Lancet study points to changing diabetes trends in India — on the rise in villages and among youth

The American Heart Association recently recognized 2,671 health care organizations in the U.S., including 18 in Mississippi, for improving health outcomes for cardiovascular patients through evidence-based efficient and coordinated care. #placement_606011_0_i{width:100%;margin:0 auto;} Newsletters

Irvine, Calif., Aug. 14, 2023 — A projected 93 million U.S. adults who are overweight and obese may be suitable for the 2.4 mg dosage of semaglutide, a weight loss medication known under the brand name Wegovy, a University of California, Irvine study has found. The researchers projected this based on the known weight loss effects (15 percent of average weight loss) of this therapy. Its use could result in 43 million fewer people with obesity, and prevent up to 1.5 million heart attacks, strokes and other adverse cardiovascular events over 10 years. The study, “US Population Eligibility and Estimated Impact of Semaglutide Treatment on Obesity Prevalence and Cardiovascular Disease Events,” was published in the journal Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy. It was led by Nathan D. Wong, PhD, professor and director of the Heart Disease Prevention Program in the Division of Cardiology at the UCI School of Medicine. Wong also recently presented his team’s findings at the American College of Cardiology scientific sessions in March 2023. The analysis is based on results from the STEP 1 trial, published in 2021 in the New England Journal of Medicine, which showed the 2.4 mg dosage of semaglutide approved by the FDA for the treatment of obesity reduced body weight by an average of 14.9 percent along with reductions in several cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure and lipids. The study projected 93 million U.S. adults (based on National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data) who are overweight or obese would fit STEP 1 eligibility criteria and that treatment with the drug would result in 43 million fewer persons with obesity. Wong and colleagues applied body mass index and other risk factor changes to cardiovascular disease risk scores among an estimated 83 million persons without pre-existing cardiovascular disease, estimating a reduction in 10-year cardiovascular disease risk of 1.8 percent from 10.15 percent to 8.34 percent (or a relative risk reduction of 18 percent), projecting up to 1.5 million cardiovascular events could be potentially prevented in 10 years. The analysis did not estimate the additional cardiovascular events that might be prevented from treatment among the approximately 10 million estimated eligible persons with cardiovascular disease. The projected 18 percent reduction in cardiovascular events in persons who are overweight or are obese but without cardiovascular disease compares favorably to the recently announced top line results of the SELECT trial, which studied Wegovy in persons with cardiovascular disease and showed an actual 20 percent reduction in future cardiovascular events. “It is one of the biggest advances in the obesity and cardiovascular medicine world,” said Wong. “We now have a weight control therapy that also significantly reduces cardiovascular events beyond the diabetes population where it was originally studied. It should be considered for patients who are obese or overweight with other risk factors where cardiovascular disease is their leading cause of disability and death.” Since drugs in this class have side effects, it is important that patients always discuss the risks and benefits of such therapies with their physician. Additionally, an appropriate dietary and physical activity regimen is always the foundation of weight management and cardiovascular risk reduction. Additionally, Wong noted that given the costs of these therapies, that better access is needed for our high risk underserved populations who may benefit from them. Wegovy is a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist injectable therapy approved by the Federal Drug Administration for chronic weight management in adults with who are obese or overweight with at least one weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol. Wegovy is to be used in addition to a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity. Novo Nordisk supported the study. About UCI’s Brilliant Future campaign: Publicly launched on October 4, 2019, the Brilliant Future campaign aims to raise awareness and support for UCI. By engaging 75,000 alumni and garnering $2 billion in philanthropic investment, UCI seeks to reach new heights of excellence in student success, health and wellness, research and more. The School of Medicine plays a vital role in the success of the campaign. Learn more by visiting https://brilliantfuture.uci.edu/uci-school-of-medicine/. About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UCI is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide. For more on UCI, visit www.uci.edu. Media access: Radio programs/stations may, for a fee, use an on-campus ISDN line to interview UCI faculty and experts, subject to availability and university approval. For more UCI news, visit news.uci.edu. Additional resources for journalists may be found at https://news.uci.edu/media-resources.

Wegovy is linked to a reduced risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart-related death, according to the results of a new clinical trial. The findings from Novo Nordisk are the first to show that a diabetes drug commonly used off-label for weight loss can also provide protective benefits beyond weight reduction. Wegovy’s maker released limited details of their findings earlier this month, including that the drug reduced the overall risk of heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular deaths by 20 percent. It did not break out the effects of the drug on each individual outcome and did not detail how much weight patients lost or provide any description of the side effects that were experienced. Novo Nordisk said the drug appeared to be “safe and well-tolerated,” which is in line with what has been seen and reported in previous clinical trials. The data has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal or reviewed by any outside scientists. The company said it would present its full trial results later this year. “I would bet that when the [full] study comes out, we will see decreases in risk factors including blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol,” Ronald Freudenberger, MD, Physician in Chief at Lehigh Valley Heart and Vascular Institute, who was not involved with the trial, told Health. “It will be important for it to go through the peer review process so we can see the details,” he said. “The initial announcement, however, is logical and makes sense.” Getty Images / imyskin Wegovy is currently FDA-approved for chronic weight management in the United States. The company plans to ask the Food and Drug Administration to add cardiovascular benefits to Wegovy’s drug prescription label later this year. “Weight management, even without the use of medications, is important as weight gain is directly tied to several cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension and diabetes,” Salim S. Virani, MD, PhD, a cardiologist at The Texas Heart Institute who was not involved with the trial, told Health. “Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women, so being able to control a direct contributor to cardiovascular risk factors can go a long way to slow the progression of these mortality numbers,” he said. The study results add to encouraging research that has found weight loss drugs to help reduce cardiovascular risks. Ozempic, which uses the same ingredient, semaglutide, as Wegovy, had a similar clinical trial conducted that saw a 26% reduction in cardiovascular events. But unlike the new Wegovy clinical trial, that study was only done with participants who had diabetes. The risk factors that contribute to poor cardiovascular health are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, family history, and smoking. While you can’t change family history, you can reverse high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes with weight loss, Freudenberger explained. “Weight loss has a direct, profound effect on decreasing the risk factors for cardiovascular events and cardiovascular disease, so it makes lots of sense that a drug that reverses the risk factors will decrease cardiovascular events,” he said. “It’s directly reversing the contributors to bad cardiovascular health.” Maintaining a healthy weight, with or without medication has also been shown to cause a general sense of well-being, more energy, reduction in stress levels, better sleep, improved immunity, better mental health, balanced hormones, and an overall enhancement in the quality of social life. A potential side effect of the clinical trial is that it could help improve insurance coverage, as the findings undermine the argument that Wegovy is merely a vanity drug. Wegovy currently costs over $1,300 a month before insurance, making it out of reach for many Americans whose insurance providers do not deem the drug medically necessary. Medicare does not cover weight loss medications—some employer insurance plans have refused to pay for them, arguing that the drugs are not essential medical remedies. This new trial could prompt more insurers to pay for the drug, at least for patients who, like the trial participants, already had evidence of pre-existing heart disease. “This outcome study strengthens the case for the use of semaglutide in patients who are overweight and obese,” said Virani. “We hope that this will help improve coverage for this medication.” As more information from the clinical trial is released, its findings will hopefully allow researchers to study the relationship between cardiovascular events and weight loss, potentially providing more answers to how drugs like Wegovy can improve heart health. Virani points out that patients considering taking Wegovy strictly for heart health should discuss their options with their treating clinicians. Experts agree that this trial could change the outlook and narrative around obesity that has long been framed as the responsibility of the individual patient, and the result of their own personal choices. “This study is indeed a landmark study,” said Freudenberger. “It shows that this class of drugs, used specifically for weight loss, decreases cardiovascular mortality, which makes physiologic sense. This makes a lot of sense.”

The study’s technical success rate was 100%. Resheathing was required during three procedures and was successful each time with no complications. The mean procedure time was 45.1 minutes. One patient did experience cardiac tamponade as a result of perforation caused by the temporary pacemaker lead, but their condition was stabilized. Another patient experienced a disabling ischemic stroke immediately following the procedure, and they were treated with an emergency mechanical thrombectomy. “No residual neurological deficit” was observed. After 30 days, the team added, survival was 100%. Also, no myocardial infarctions, acute kidney injuries or major vascular complications were reported, and no patients were hospitalized for valve-related symptoms or congestive heart failure. A second patient did experience a minor stroke five days after the procedure. According to a neurologist who saw the patient, the “underlying cause of persistent neurological deficit at 30 days was a combination of prolonged postoperative recovery and subacute stroke.” Significant improvements were seen in the mean aortic valve gradient, peak velocity, aortic valve area and effective orifice area index after 30 days. Severe aortic regurgitation (AR) and paravalvular leak (PVL) was not seen in any patients, though moderate AR and moderate PVL were both seen in one patient with severely calcified aortic annulus anatomy. Significant improvements were also seen in quality of life questionnaires taken before the procedure and then again 30 days following the procedure. This included an improved mean six-minute walk distance. “The results of this study demonstrated the early procedural safety of the device in a patient population with intermediate or high surgical risk, as evidenced by a 0% mortality rate within 30 days,” the authors wrote. “The observed rate is comparable with that of first-generation and second-generation devices, and the low procedural mortality rates for third-generation balloon-expandable and self-expandable aortic valves implanted through the transfemoral route.” The team also emphasized that the complication rate seen during this study was comparable to what has been reported for similar devices. The two strokes were noteworthy, but Briedis and colleagues noted that strokes have always been a considerable risk associated with TAVR. “Importantly, no association was found between patients who underwent re-sheathing of the valve and incidence of any stroke,” the group added. Another key takeaway from the team’s analysis was the benefit of the premounted valve. “In comparison with other TAVR devices on the market, the average implantation time was considerably shorter,” the authors wrote. “This could be attributed to the device’s exceptional feature of being fully premounted on the delivery system in the manufacturing facilities, eliminating the need for valve assembly and crimping during the procedure, thus reducing the time required for the implantation. Finally, given the fact that this was a first-in-human experience associated with an operator’s early learning curve, the average reported procedure time might be overstated and can be reduced after getting more expertise with the Vienna TAVR system.” While much more research on this valve is still required, the authors praised its efficiency and ability to minimize the steps required to complete a TAVR procedure. The group also noted that, thanks to these advantages, it could prove to be a valuable resource for “developing countries facing logistical and economical challenges.” Read the full study here. This device has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.