Structural Heart Disease

Structural heart diseases include any issues preventing normal cardiovascular function due to damage or alteration to the anatomical components of the heart. This is caused by aging, advanced atherosclerosis, calcification, tissue degeneration, congenital heart defects and heart failure. The most commonly treated areas are the heart valves, in particular the mitral and aortic valves. These can be replaced through open heart surgery or using cath lab-based transcatheter valves or repairs to eliminate regurgitation due to faulty valve leaflets. This includes transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Other common procedures include left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion and closing congenital holes in the heart, such as PFO and ASD. A growing area includes transcatheter mitral repair or replacement and transcatheter tricuspid valve repair and replacement.

Saint Luke's expands cardio wellness center services with opening of new Charles & Barbara Duboc Cardio Health & Wellness Center at Saint Luke's Hospital

The Charles & Barbara Duboc Cardio Health & Wellness Center is ushering in a new era for preventive cardiac care at Saint Luke's Hospital..

American Heart Association honors Mount Sinai’s Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, for his global leadership

The American Heart Association (AHA) has awarded world-renowned cardiologist Dr. Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, Director of Mount Sinai Heart at The Mount Sinai Medical Center, its prominent American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Ron Haddock International Impact Award.

EU makes strides (mostly) against heart disease

Death rates from coronary heart disease have plunged over 30 years in Europe. But analysts in a study published June 25 in the European Heart Journal detected glimmers of a reversal in some countries within the European Union (EU).

Japan approves Sapien XT valve

Japan’s regulatory body has approved Edwards Lifesciences’ Sapien XT valve for surgical aortic valve replacement.

Downer diabetes trial: Weight loss, exercise fail to reduce cardiovascular risk

Overweight or obese adults with type 2 diabetes who lost on average 6 percent of their body weight over about 10 years were no less at risk of cardiovascular disease than people who received diabetes support and education. But the intensive lifestyle intervention did improve their glycated hemoglobin levels, according to results published June 24 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Taking heart disease to heart in your practice

Lori Mosca, MD, MPH, PhD, a leader in preventive cardiology and author of “Heart to Heart: A Personal Plan for Creating a Heart-Healthy Family,” shares tips on counseling patients about lifestyle changes that reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics collaborates on bipartisan Medicare bill to treat and reduce obesity

A promising bipartisan bill that increases vital access and reimbursement for obesity screening and counseling services has been introduced in Congress, thanks in part to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Saxagliptin misses efficacy mark in trial

Saxagliptin failed to meet its primary efficacy endpoint in a clinical trial designed to assess whether the drug reduced the risk of cardiovascular events when used alone or added to other diabetes medications.

Around the web

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.

Ron Blankstein, MD, professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, explains the use of artificial intelligence to detect heart disease in non-cardiac CT exams.