JACC This Week

This interview features JACC Associate Editor Neha Pagidipati, MD, FACC, speaking with Maria Pabon, MD and Muthu Vaduganathan, MD about their study on finerenone's role in reducing new-onset atrial fibrillation in patients with cardio-kidney metabolic disease. The discussion covers the methodology and findings of a pooled analysis from three major clinical trials, highlighting finerenone's 17% risk reduction in atrial fibrillation, its potential mechanisms, and the need for greater diversity in clinical trial populations. They also touch on comparative evidence with other mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists and the broader implications for heart failure management.

Dhruv Kazi, MBBS, MS, FACC and first author Mohammed Essa, MD, discuss their newly published JACC Brief Report presented at ACC.25 on cardiac rehabilitation following myocardial infarction, with a focus on patients who experience cardiogenic shock. JACC: Associate Editor Jason H. Wasfy, MD, MPhil, FACC, asks questions to explore the significant underutilization of cardiac rehab, the impact of social determinants of health, and potential policy changes to improve access and outcomes. Join the conversation as they highlight key findings and the need for innovative solutions in cardiovascular care. #jacc #jaccjournals #acc25

In this insightful discussion, Christie Ballantyne, MD, FACC shares research on targeting APOC-III with Plozasiran to manage hypertriglyceridemia. He and JACC Associate Editor Marc P. Bonaca, MD, FACC discuss the impact on lipoprotein particle size, LDL composition, and potential cardiovascular benefits. Don't miss this deep dive into the future of lipid management and cardiovascular risk reduction – listen now and read the study in JACC: https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2025.03.496 #jaccjournals #jacc #acc25

Hosts Mitsuaki Sawano, MD, and Shun Kohsaka, MD, FACC, welcome Saki Ito, MD, a physician scientist at the Mayo Clinic, to discuss key topics expected at the upcoming ACC.25 in Chicago and a nuanced phenotype of aortic stenosis (AS): high-gradient AS with an aortic valve area (AVA) greater than 1.0 cm². Drawing from a recent retrospective study at Mayo Clinic, Dr. Ito examines the heterogeneous nature of this group—including patients with bicuspid valves and elevated stroke volume due to larger body size—and the potential prognostic benefit of aortic valve replacement (AVR) despite the absence of classic severity markers.

Watch here for a video interview with JACC Associate Editor Michelle Kittleson, MD, FACC, and author Mathew S. Muarer, MD, FACC, as they discuss Dr. Maurer's study published in JACC and presented at ACC.25. This exploratory analysis of HELIOS-B assessed the efficacy of vutrisiran versus placebo in patients with transthyretin amyloidosis with cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) by subgroups of baseline heart failure severity (primarily by NYHA class and NT-proBNP levels). Vutrisiran showed evidence of benefit vs placebo on mortality, cardiovascular events, functional capacity, quality of life, and cardiac biomarkers across the range of baseline disease severities in patients enrolled in HELIOS-B, with greatest benefit observed in patients with earlier, less severe disease.

In this podcast episode, Dr. Valentin Fuster, editor emeritus of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, presents a comprehensive summary of the April 1, 2025 issue, covering five groundbreaking studies in cardiovascular research. Key highlights include insights on mechanical vs. bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement, AI-driven screening for structural heart disease, the impact of guideline-directed medical therapy in chronic coronary artery disease, and the significance of remnant cholesterol in peripheral arterial disease.

In this episode, Dr. Valentin Fuster discusses a study comparing bioprosthetic and mechanical aortic valve replacements, revealing that mechanical valves provide a survival benefit for patients under 60, despite the inconvenience of anticoagulation. The study's findings challenge the increasing trend toward bioprosthetic valves, emphasizing that individualized patient care should remain the focus in choosing the best valve option.

In this episode, Dr. Valentin Fuster discusses a groundbreaking study that leverages artificial intelligence for early detection and risk stratification of structural heart diseases (SHD) using electrocardiographic images. The study, led by Dr. Lovdeep Dingre and Dr. Rohan Khera from Yale School of Medicine, presents an ensemble deep learning model that accurately identifies multiple SHD conditions, demonstrating high sensitivity and potential for transforming cardiac care through early, accessible screening.

In this episode, Dr. Valentin Fuster discusses a study from the ISCHEMIA trial, showing that achieving multiple guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) goals—especially blood pressure control—reduces cardiovascular events in chronic coronary artery disease patients. The study highlights the importance of early goal attainment and adherence, with the POLYPILL offering a potential solution to improve patient compliance.

In this episode, Dr. Valentin Fuster reviews the ischemia trial's findings on invasive versus conservative treatment strategies for patients with chronic total occlusions (CTOs). The trial revealed that while revascularization of CTOs improved quality of life for angina, the invasive approach did not significantly reduce heart-related deaths or heart attacks compared to conservative management.