Among patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery who were also on blood pressure medications, a multifaceted strategy to try to keep their blood pressure from dropping to a potentially dangerous low level immediately before, during and for up to two days after surgery made no difference in the rates of major cardiovascular events in the 30 days following surgery. The research was presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 71st Annual Scientific Session.

Patients with tricuspid regurgitation, a common and debilitating form of valvular heart disease, who received a novel investigational device intended to repair the defective valve experienced significant improvements in blood flow through the heart and in quality of life at one year, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 71st Annual Scientific Session.

Patients kept at a body temperature of 37 C during major surgery had no fewer cardiac complications than patients kept at 35.5 C, according to data presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 71st Annual Scientific Session. There were also no differences in the number of infections or required blood transfusions in patients kept at cooler body temperatures.

For two years now, much of the media coverage has been dominated by the corona pandemic. Nevertheless, the population in Germany does not feel equally educated about all aspects of the coronavirus. This is shown by the results of the current BfR-Corona-Monitor – a regular survey by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). Accordingly, only 49 percent of the population currently feel well informed about the measures currently in force, 28 percent consider themselves to be not well informed. In contrast, people rate their level of information about the current vaccination recommendations higher: Here, 64 percent say they are well informed. "In this context, we also see differences between different age groups," says BfR-President Professor Dr. Dr. Andreas Hensel. "For example, people aged 60 and over feel best informed about the current recommendations for vaccination against the coronavirus, whereas people under 40 feel better informed about its symptoms."

Patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) did not experience any improvement in their ability to exercise vigorously after taking the experimental heart failure drug omecamtiv mecarbil, in a study presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 71st Annual Scientific Session.

People who received personalized nutrition education in a series of sessions conducted at their regular grocery store significantly improved their adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, in a study presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 71st Annual Scientific Session. The diet, which emphasizes vegetables, fruits and whole grains while limiting foods that are high in saturated fat, sugar and sodium, has been shown to lower blood pressure and LDL, or “bad” cholesterol.