Hypertension

High blood pressure increases a patient's risk of heart attack, stroke and other diseases. Most people with hypertension have no symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says nearly half of U.S. adults have hypertension, or high blood pressure, and only about 1 in 4 of those individuals has their hypertension under control. The World Health Organization (WHO) expects the epidemic of hypertension world-wide will exceed 1.56 billion people by 2025. Major efforts are underway to better control this primary risk factor through screenings, medication and invasive procedures such as renal denervation in severely uncontrolled patients.

Richard Kovacs, MD, MACC, chief medical officer, American College of Cardiology (ACC), former ACC president, and professor of clinical medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, explains the most important late-breaking cardiology pharmacology trials at the ACC 2025 meeting. #ACC25 #ACC2025

Late-breaking cardiovascular drug trials took center stage at ACC.25

Richard Kovacs, MD, detailed some the most important late-breaking cardiology pharmacology trials presented at ACC.25.

Early pregnancy blood pressure patterns tied to hypertension risk years later

Researchers show certain blood pressure patterns during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy were more likely to develop into hypertension later in life. 

Standard transthoracic imaging planes for comprehensive right heart assessment. Several key views should be included in the standard echocardiographic assessment of the right heart. Image and caption courtesy of the American Society of Echocardiography.

ASE updates recommendations for assessing right heart function in patients with pulmonary hypertension

The new guidelines were designed to ensure sonographers and other members of the heart team have the information they need to screen patients when appropriate and identify early warnings signs of PH. 

money business cash flow dollar

Boston Scientific enters renal denervation market with acquisition worth up to $540M

Boston Scientific has announced another significant M&A deal, scooping up an Israeli medtech company focused on RDN technology. 

Cardiovascular societies support Medicare coverage for renal denervation

CMS is expected to release a proposed national coverage determination decision memo by July.
 

Recor Medical's Paradise Ultrasound Renal Denervation System

Momentum continues for renal denervation as CMS considers national Medicare coverage

CMS is accepting public comments on the topic for a period of 30 days. Recor Medical and Medtronic have both shared statements in support of the potential policy shift.

artificial intelligence in cardiology

No-contact blood pressure and diabetes screening with AI shows promise

The new technology, still under development, could help physicians screen patients for diabetes and hypertension with high-speed video recordings. 

Renal denervation systems from Recor Medical, Medtronic receive new outpatient payments

Both FDA-approved systems previously received inpatient payments in August. 

Around the web

GE HealthCare said the price of iodine contrast increased by more than 200% between 2017 to 2023. Will new Chinese tariffs drive costs even higher?

Several key trends were evident at the Radiological Society of North America 2024 meeting, including new CT and MR technology and evolving adoption of artificial intelligence.