Researchers from the University of Washington and University of Pittsburgh have developed a wireless power system that may one day be used to power implanted heart pumps, according to findings presented June 10-12, at the 57th Annual Conference of the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs (ASAIO).

Critical access hospitals (CAHs) face a litany of challenges including fewer clinical capabilities and lower care process performance compared with non-CAH facilities, according to research published July 6 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Moderate or severe diastolic dysfunction (DD) was an independent predictor of mortality in patients with a normal ejection fraction who presented for outpatient echocardiography, according to a study published June 27 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading culprit of death among women and each year; 8.6 million women die from the disease. However, because women are underrepresented in CVD clinical trials, it is difficult for physicians to understand whether women benefit from certain treatments. More gender-specific research will help improve womens heart health, according to report put forth by the Society for Womens Health Research and WomenHeart.

Advanced age (older than 70 years) should not be used as an independent contraindication when selecting a heart failure (HF) patient for left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy at experienced community hospital centers, based on results of a single-center study in the June 21 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Marc Steven Penn, MD, PhD, is leaving his post at Cleveland Clinic to become director of research for Summa Cardiovascular Institute and professor of medicine and integrative medical sciences at NEOMED, both of which are located in Akron, Ohio.

Cardiac problems remain a persistent concern for Medicare beneficiaries; however, rates for cardiac-related hospitalizations have declined over the past decade, according to new data presented at this years annual American Heart Association (AHA) Quality of Care and Outcomes Research in Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke scientific sessions in Atlanta.

Treating cardiovascular disease, in particular those patients with heart failure (HF) and myocardial infarction (MI), is costly. Studies show that HF and MI patients are particularly vulnerable in the 30-day post discharge period for hospital readmission. Therefore, changes in care strategies during this period of time could greatly improve outcomes.