Top 10 Cardiology News of December 2024

Closing the Left Atrial Septal Pouch for Stroke Prevention

• A small trial investigated the potential of closing the left atrial septal pouch, an anatomical feature seen in about one-third of adults, to reduce stroke risk.
• While promising, the study emphasized the need for further research to clarify its role in stroke prevention.

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CMS Final Rule: ‘Death by a Thousand Cuts’ for Cardiologists

• The CMS 2025 Final Rule introduced significant reimbursement cuts, posing ongoing financial challenges for cardiologists.
• The cardiovascular community continues to advocate for long-term solutions rather than short-term fixes to address these systemic issues.

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Inaugural Interventional Cardiology Match Completed

• The first-ever interventional cardiology match was completed this week, with 164 programs offering 326 positions.
• Of the 290 applicants, 272 successfully matched, marking a milestone for this subspecialty.

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PCR London Valves: Electrical Variables and Pacemaker Needs Post-TAVI

• The CONDUCT-TAVI study showed that electrical variables, rather than valve type, predict the need for a pacemaker after TAVI.
• The study found no association between self-expanding valves and increased pacemaker risk, challenging earlier assumptions.

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Potential Sex Differences in FFR-Guided PCI vs. CABG

• The FAME 3 trial suggested possible sex differences in outcomes for fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided PCI compared to CABG.
• Low representation of women in the trial limited definitive conclusions, highlighting the need for more gender-balanced studies.

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Reimbursement Challenges for Renal Denervation

• Financial barriers have slowed the adoption of renal denervation in many centers, despite its potential benefits for hypertension management.
• Some financial relief is expected in the coming year, but reimbursement issues remain a significant obstacle.

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Smokeless Oral Nicotine: Unknowns and Risks

• The AHA policy statement highlighted concerns about nicotine gummies, pouches, and other smokeless oral nicotine products.
• While these products are rapidly proliferating, their long-term risks to cardiovascular health remain largely unknown.

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Tirzepatide Approved for Sleep Apnea in Obesity

• The FDA approved tirzepatide (Zepbound/Mounjaro; Eli Lilly) as the first drug for sleep apnea in adults with obesity.
• Approval followed topline results from the SURMOUNT-OSA trial, underscoring its potential to address this significant unmet need.

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Tirzepatide Outperforms Semaglutide for Weight Loss

• The SURMOUNT-5 trial demonstrated that tirzepatide led to greater weight loss than semaglutide, with patients losing an average of 20.2% versus 13.7% of their body weight over 72 weeks.

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Twitter Exodus: Cardiologists Ditch X for Bluesky

• Many cardiologists have migrated from X (formerly Twitter) to Bluesky, citing concerns about the changing social media landscape.
• Once a hub for professional connection, X has seen reduced engagement among medical professionals in 2024.