Royal Philips and the American Heart Association are collaborating for a new program devoted to increasing survival rates in patients who experience sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), the organizations announced Jan. 23.

Higher concentrations of troponin—even those that were within a “normal range”—signal increased odds of adverse outcomes among outpatients with stable chest pain, suggesting the biomarker test may improve risk stratification and inform management strategies for this common clinical scenario.

Just 21 percent of adults and 17 percent of children and adolescents living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) meet the treatment goals outlined by the American Diabetes Association, according to a study published Jan. 18 in Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics.

LEIPZIG and MARLBOROUGH, Mass. (January 22, 2019) — Boston Scientific (NYSE: BSX) today announced diabetic subanalysis results from the IMPERIAL trial in which patients treated with the ELUVIA™ Drug-Eluting Vascular Stent System demonstrated statistically significant lower rates of target lesion revascularization (TLR) and stent thrombosis when compared to those treated with the Zilver® PTX® Drug-Eluting Peripheral Stent. 

A study of more than 1,000 Hispanic adults with hypertension found increased health literacy improves patients’ adherence to blood pressure medications—but the majority of the population struggles with poor health literacy, indicating a need for tailored interventions.

The FDA published its final guidance Jan. 22 for ensuring medical devices meet “more modern safety and performance criteria” before being cleared through the agency’s 510(k) review process.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD), even in its moderate stages, is associated with an increased risk of aortic stenosis, according to research published ahead of print in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Another smartwatch has received FDA clearance for an electrocardiogram (ECG) feature. But this one—the Study Watch from Alphabet’s health division, Verily—is a “prescription-only device” rather than a product marketed to all consumers.

Leadless pacemakers are a viable alternative to conventional pacemakers in patients with a history of device infection and lead extraction, researchers reported in the January edition of Heart Rhythm.

Medtronic hopes newly presented five-year survival data put to rest any concerns about the long-term safety of the company’s IN.PACT Admiral drug-coated balloon (DCB).