Higher blood pressure trajectories among younger adults may place them at risk for coronary artery calcification (CAC) in middle age, according to a study published in the Feb. 5 issue of JAMA.

Most Americans consume excess sugar, which may place them at increased risk of dying from cardiovascular disease (CVD), a study published online Feb. 3 in JAMA Internal Medicine found.

About 30 percent of infants born with critical congenital heart disease have their conditions detected more than three days after birth, and the use of a universal screening tool based on pulse oximetry could result in earlier detection, according to a study published online Feb. 3 in JAMA Pediatrics.

The American Medical Group Association announced today that the Baptist Memorial Health Care Foundation has awarded a grant to the Measure Up/Pressure Down(TM) campaign to help improve the rates of high blood pressure control among patients in the health system's region.

St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ), a global medical device company, has received European CE Mark approval for its 25 mm Portico™ Transcatheter Aortic Heart Valve Implantation System. The approval expands the number of patients who can be treated using the Portico heart valve during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures. TAVR is an option for patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (a narrowing of the aortic heart valve that obstructs blood flow from the heart). These patients are considered high-risk for conventional open-heart valve replacement surgery.

Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) today announced that the Phase 3 RUTHERFORD-2 (RedUction of LDL-C with PCSK9 InhibiTion in HEteRozygous Familial HyperchOlesteRolemia Disorder Study-2) trial evaluating evolocumab in combination with statins and other lipid-lowering therapies in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) met its co-primary endpoints: the percent reduction from baseline in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) at week 12 and the mean percent reduction from baseline in LDL-C at weeks 10 and 12.

Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) today announced that the Phase 3 LAPLACE-2 (LDL-C Assessment with PCSK9 MonoclonaL Antibody Inhibition Combined with Statin ThErapy-2) trial evaluating evolocumab in combination with statin therapy in patients with high cholesterol met its co-primary endpoints: the percent reduction from baseline in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) at week 12 and the mean percent reduction from baseline in LDL-C at weeks 10 and 12. The mean percent reductions in LDL-C, or "bad" cholesterol, were consistent with the published results observed for the same doses in the Phase 2 LAPLACE-TIMI 57 (LAPLACE-Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction-57) trial for evolocumab compared to placebo; and in the Phase 2 MENDEL (Monoclonal Antibody Against PCSK9 to Reduce Elevated LDL-C in Patients Currently Not Receiving Drug Therapy For Easing Lipid Levels) study for evolocumab compared to ezetimibe.

Outcomes in patients waiting for heart transplants may vary according to the length of waiting list time, findings in a study published online Jan. 29 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology showed.