cardiology

The clickable links below navigate directly to outside media articles which featured Department of Medicine faculty and staff throughout the month of April 2026. Haley Simpson, MD, was consulted on the rising survival rate of patients diagnosed with cancer. Lindsay Rosman, MD, published a study identifying atrial fibrillation density as a biomarker for ischaemic stroke risk prediction. David Wohl…

Heart disease can take many different forms, and some types are harder to detect and manage than others. One of these is a condition called transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy, or ATTR-CM. Although it is not widely recognized, it is a serious disease that can lead to heart failure and early death if not treated properly. In […] The post Simple blood test could help doctors predict severe heart f…

Nature Medicine, Published online: 05 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41591-026-04437-z Comprehensive, multinational validation of the PREVENT and SCORE2 cardiovascular risk scores, used in the United States and Europe, respectively, in 44 observational studies and 18 randomized trials, shows similar performance for the two risk scores and generally good performance across geographical regions.

After a heart attack, the body rapidly floods the injured heart with neutrophils - white blood cells that help repair damage but can also make it worse when too many arrive too quickly.

A hidden cholesterol particle may signal overlooked cardiovascular risk, offering a new clue for prevention and future treatments. New findings from an analysis of more than 20,000 patients across three major NIH studies show that elevated Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is linked to ongoing cardiovascular risk, even after standard treatments. Lp(a) is a cholesterol-carrying particle found in [...]

Journal of Computer Science, Published online: 4 May 2026; doi:10.3844/jcssp.2026.1484.1493 Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) are a common form of heart disease that remains a significant global cause of mortality, responsible for more than 30% of all fatalities. Without intervention, the globa...

Chapel Hill, NC - A new project led by Thibaut Davy-Mendez, PhD, MSPH, at the Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, funded by the Gilead Research Scholars Program, is taking aim at a longstanding gap in HIV care: accurately predicting who is at highest risk for cardiovascular disease.

Scientific Data, Published online: 04 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41597-026-07278-0 A large-scale 12-lead electrocardiogram dataset for acute coronary syndrome prediction containing 19,955 ECGs

People with obesity face a significantly increased risk of atherosclerosis, and consequently heart attack and stroke.

BackgroundHypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is one of the most common genetic cardiovascular conditions, which may be linked to ion channel dysfunction. In decades, Genetic studies in HCM patients have shown that multiple gene mutations in potassium and calcium ion channels, which may contribute to HCM progression. The direct relationship between HCM and ion channels still needs to be clarified.M…

Cholesterol is a fatty substance that the body needs in small amounts, but too much of it can be harmful. When levels of low-density lipoprotein, often called “bad” cholesterol, become too high, it can build up inside blood vessels. This buildup forms plaques that make it harder for blood to flow. Over time, this can […] The post Scientists find how to switch off ‘bad cholesterol’ at its source a…

It’s not often that a pair of studies completely challenges our assumptions in cardiology, but new data presented at HRS 2026 suggests myocardial infarction might not be the main cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Despite how far cardiology has come in treating the heart, annual SCD incidence remains high. This prompted researchers to continuously […] The post The True Cause of Sudden Cardiac D…

High cholesterol is a common health problem that affects millions of people around the world. When there is too much cholesterol in the blood, it can stick to the walls of arteries and form plaques. Over time, these plaques can narrow or block the arteries, reducing blood flow. This condition, known as atherosclerosis, increases the […] The post New treatment cuts bad cholesterol by nearly 50% wi…

When pregnant women develop heart failure, the immune system itself may drive the disease. A new study identifies two proteins as key actors and offers a rare mechanistic explanation for an otherwise poorly understood condition.

For the first time, scientists have shown that heart muscle cells can regrow after a heart attack in humans, a process that had previously only been observed in mice. Groundbreaking work led by specialists from the University of Sydney, the Baird Institute, and the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney has found that heart muscle [...]

Many people think of weight-loss drugs as a way to improve appearance or reduce body size. However, science is now showing that some of these medicines may do much more than that. They may also help protect the heart and reduce the risk of life-threatening events like heart attacks and strokes. A recent study led […] The post How new diabetes drugs could prevent heart disease appeared first on Kn…

Heart disease remains one of the biggest health threats around the world. It includes conditions such as heart attacks and strokes, which happen when blood flow to the heart or brain is blocked. These problems are often linked to factors like obesity, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Because of this, doctors have long […] The post Weight-loss drugs could protect heart health, study show…

Obesity is a growing health problem around the world. It is not just about body size or appearance. It is closely linked to serious diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. These conditions can shorten life and reduce quality of life. Because of this, doctors and researchers have been trying to find the best […] The post Which obesity treatment protects the heart better? appeared fir…

A new breakthrough could change how high cholesterol is treated, offering a powerful alternative to traditional drugs. Researchers have developed tiny DNA-based molecules that shut down PCSK9—a key protein that keeps “bad” LDL cholesterol circulating in the blood. By blocking this protein, cells can absorb more cholesterol instead of letting it build up in arteries, dramatically lowering levels l…