TCTMD’s Top 10 Most Popular Stories for April 2022

With the exception of our twice-weekly COVID-19 Dispatch, this month’s TCTMD top 10 list is the first to have no COVID-19 news since early 2020! Half of the top stories stemmed from late-breaking trials and guidelines released at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) 2022 Scientific Session. Rounding out the list were a feature story on in-flight emergencies, an aspirin/clopidogrel comparison for secondary prevention, a small trial of intermittent fasting for weight loss, and a study of revascularization’s impact on LV function in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

1. ACC 2022 Self-Expanding TAVI Looks More Durable Than SAVR at 5 Years

The results challenge the dogma that younger patients, on the basis of better valve longevity, should get a surgical valve.

2. ACC 2022 Mavacamten Slashes Need for Septal Reduction in Obstructive HCM: VALOR-HCM

The novel cardiac myosin inhibitor could be the missing piece for targeted hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) treatment, several physicians say.

3. ACC 2022 New HF Guidelines Stress Four-Drug Approach, ‘HFmrEF,’ Amyloidosis Options, and More

The guidelines, from the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and Heart Failure Society of America, are the first full update since 2013 and informed by recent groundbreaking clinical trials.

4. COVID-19 TCTMD’s Dispatch

We’re curating a list of COVID-19 research and other useful content, and updating it regularly.

5. FEATURE Sit Back, Relax . . . and Respond to an In-flight Medical Emergency?

Several ACC attendees heading home from the meeting in Washington, DC, had to help out with medical emergencies at cruising altitude.

6. Clopidogrel Superior to ‘Divine’ Aspirin Monotherapy in Secondary Prevention

P2Y12 inhibitors reduced the risk of MI by 19%, and researchers say it’s time to move beyond aspirin for long-term use.

7. ACC 2022 PACMAN-AMI: Positive Plaque Changes With Early Alirocumab Use in Acute MI

The trial is important in helping to understand how lipid-lowering therapy improves outcomes, Michael Blaha says.

8. Intermittent Fasting Trial Rumbles Weight-Loss Landscape

Adding a fasting period to cutting calories didn’t improve results, but experts say the popular approach warrants more study.

9. ACC 2022 APOLLO: Novel siRNA Injectable Cuts Lp(a) by Nearly 100% in Small Study

Lp(a), called the holy grail of prevention research, was reduced dramatically with SLN360 and should spur further research.

10. Revascularization’s Benefits in HFrEF Linked to Gains in LV Function

In a surprise, PCI seemed to have an edge over CABG. Data from the ongoing REVIVED-BCIS2 trial may provide clarity.

On Rox Heart Radio this month, Roxana Mehran celebrates TAVI’s 20th birthday with Alain Cribier, MD, Martin Leon, MD, and Michael Mack, MD. On the Heart Sounds Podcast this month, Pamela Morris, MD, offers her highlights from the ACC 2022 meeting. Find all of TCTMD’s news, videos, and slides from ACC 2022 on our conference page.