ACCEL Lite: Featured ACCEL Interviews on Exciting CV Research

If there were a pill that could lower blood pressure, lower LDL cholesterol, improve erectile function and lower cardiovascular risk, would you take it? Good, because we already have it, and it comes pre-packaged in plant-based foods.  In this interview, Robert Ostfeld MD, MSc, FACC and Alison L. Bailey, MD FACC explore the vital link between nutrition and cardiovascular health.  Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Subscribe on Google Play | Subscribe to ACCEL 

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HOCM) often goes unnoticed, yet as awareness grows, patients may find themselves more symptomatic than expected. How do doctors and patients navigate the array of management options, from medications to minimally invasive procedures or open-heart surgery? Discover what options offer the best chance for patients to feel their best, or even achieve a sense of normalcy, with minimal risk and hassle.  In this interview, Srihari S. Naidu, MD, FACC and Cindy L. Grines, MD, FACC, discuss HOCM: Selecting the Right Meds and Procedures.     Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Subscribe on Google Play | Subscribe to ACCEL 

Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), commonly experienced as palpitations from occasional skipped heartbeats, are typically benign but can escalate to severe symptoms or heart failure in individuals with a high PVC burden. Understanding the most effective diagnostic tests for quantifying PVCs is crucial for guiding appropriate management strategies.  In this interview, Jim Cheung MD, FACC and Anthony N. DeMaria MD, MACC discuss PVC burden and its temporal variability.  Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Subscribe on Google Play | Subscribe to ACCEL 

Individuals from lower socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds face heightened risks of morbidity and mortality, particularly in the context of health conditions such as cardiovascular disease. Despite this increased vulnerability, they often face barriers to accessing crucial secondary prevention programs, such as cardiac rehabilitation. How can we bridge this gap and ensure that these vulnerable patients receive the support they urgently need?  In this interview, Diann Gaalema, PhD and Anthony N. DeMaria, MD, MACC discuss financial incentives to improving cardiac rehab participation.  Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Subscribe on Google Play | Subscribe to ACCEL 

Cardiology experts Stephen Greene, MD, FACC, and Sidney C. Smith Jr., MD, MACC discuss inpatient initiation of HF GDMT, emphasizing the importance of prompt therapy to reduce mortality and readmission rates. They address challenges in implementing guideline-directed medical therapy and disparities in usage, showcasing tools like best practice reminders and virtual consultations to support physicians.

Cardiologists Andrew Choi and Clyde W. Yancy discuss the importance of assessing plaque burden, morphology, and flow beyond luminal narrowing for cardiac prevention. They explore advanced imaging techniques like coronary CT angiography and novel medication interventions to improve patient outcomes in coronary disease assessment.

The most common congenital heart defect, congenital BAV, affects 1% of the population (2% in men, 0.5% in women), with a male-to-female ratio of 2:1 to 3:1. It's characterized by diverse phenotypic expressions and outcomes, falling into two prognostic groups:  Typical valvulo-aortopathy: Most common, with progressive BAV dysfunction and/or aorta dilatation but long-term survival similar to the general population.  Complex valvulo-aortopathy: Associated with significant concomitant disorders and/or accelerated valvulo-aortopathy, leading to inferior long-term survival.  BAV is a lifelong clinical condition with a morbidity burden exceeding 80%. Common complications include progression to ≥ moderate AS or AR, native aortic valve surgery, aortic aneurysm, surgery for aortic aneurysm, surgery for coarctation of the aorta, infective endocarditis, and aortic dissection. In this interview, Hector I. Michelena, MD, FACC and W. Douglas Weaver MD, MACC discuss the history of and complications associated with bicuspid valvuloaortopathy.  Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Subscribe on Google Play | Subscribe to ACCEL 

Discover how detection of coronary artery calcium can greatly enhance risk prediction and risk mitigation, making it a critical tool for clinicians aiming to personalize patient care and prevent future cardiac events.  In this interview, Michael D. Shapiro, DO, FACC and Roger S. Blumenthal MD, FACC explore CAC scoring and the role of calcium detection in tailoring patient care, personalized risk assessment, and the prevention of future cardiac events.  Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Subscribe on Google Play | Subscribe to ACCEL 

In this interview, Leslie Cho, MD, FACC, and Steven E. Nissen MD, MACC explore the nuances of estrogen and testosterone replacement: who benefits, when to consider it, and how long it should last.      Subscribe to ACCEL 

Ticagrelor monotherapy following one month of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) outperforms 12-month DAPT (aspirin and ticagrelor) post PCI for reducing clinically meaningful bleeding with no increased thrombotic risk. In this interview, Gregg W Stone MD, FACC and Anthony N. DeMaria MD, MACC discuss principal results from the Ultimate DAPT Trial. Subscribe to ACCEL Lite Other ACC resources on DAPT and bleeding risk: 1.      One-Month Ticagrelor Monotherapy After PCI in Acute Coronary Syndromes - IVUS-ACS/ULTIMATE-DAPT 2.      Study Suggests Most Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes Can Safely Stop Aspirin One Month After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention 3.      ACC.24 Presentation Slides | ULTIMATE-DAPT