TCTMD’s Top 10 Most Popular Stories for August 2024

Our top 10 list for August covers wide ground. Coming in first was the news that Lilly’s own pharmacy is now selling its obesity drug tirzepatide at a lower cost, with the aims of expanding access and combating counterfeit versions. Also of interest: TCTMD journalist L.A. McKeown’s feature article looking at the US rollout of tricuspid transcatheter edge-to-edge repair with TriClip (Abbott). Other most-read stories addressed everything from device options for treating in-stent restenosis to ChatGPT’s potential role in the cath lab, concerns over post-TAVI neurological complications, and cardiovascular events (or the lack thereof) with COVID-19 vaccination. Two recent articles from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2024, which just wrapped up in London, also made the cut: the ABYSS and RESHAPE-HF2 trials. See the full list below.

1. Cheaper Version of Tirzepatide for Weight Loss Now Available, Lilly Says

The manufacturer is selling single-dose vials of the drug via its online pharmacy at around $400 to $500 for a 4-week supply.

2. FEATURE Initial US Commercial TriClip Cases Offer Hope, but Reimbursement Still a Big Question

While they’re glad to have the option, operators wonder about the impact payers will have on the rollout of the novel technology.

3. DES Best for In-Stent Restenosis, but DCBs Also Viable

In the RIBS trials, Abbott’s old BVS had the highest risks of TLR, specifically beyond 1 year, and safety worries when used for ISR.

4. FINEARTS-HF: Topline Results Support Role for Finerenone in Mildly Reduced or Preserved EF

The phase III trial is the first to show a CV benefit for a nonsteroidal MRA in this patient population, Bayer AG announced with topline results earlier this month. The full results were then released at ESC 2024.

5. ‘Hey, ChatGPT: Surgery or the Cath Lab?’ Study Shows AI Can Aid Decision-Making

The latest version of ChatGPT correctly made the right call 100% of the time when choosing CABG versus PCI or TAVI versus SAVR, researchers say.

6. ESC RESHAPE-HF2 Is a Win for MitraClip in FMR—Not Everyone’s On Board

A flurry of papers, including a meta-analysis of the three RCTs, reflect big interest and even larger, unanswered questions.

7. Post-TAVI Neurologic Problems an Ongoing Issue

Findings from two studies add new fodder to the debate around the usefulness of cerebral embolic protection devices.

8. COVID-19 Vaccination Tied to Fewer CV Events in Large UK Study

Though rare complications were confirmed, the study supports the net benefit of immunization—particularly for CVD patients.

9. Going Contrast Free in TAVI Is Safe for CKD Patients

Promising data for noncontrast CT angiography are starting to build, with the latest study showing its role in balloon-expandable valves.

10. ESC ABYSS: Safety Signal Seen When Beta-blockers Stopped in Post-MI Patients

The study failed to show that stopping beta-blockers after MI was noninferior to continuing treatment, surprising researchers.

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The TCTMD news team had a busy time onsite at ESC 2024—you can find all our coverage here. Also in August, TCTMD Editor-in-Chief Shelley Wood sat down with Srihari Naidu and Lindsay Davis to hear about their new children's book on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, featured in the latest episode of her monthly Heart Sounds podcast.