PARADIGM-HF already underscored the mortality benefit of a new combo drug for patients with chronic heart failure. Now a study that looked into clinical outcomes gave it high scores for halting the progression of heart failure in survivors.

Coronary revascularization rates dipped by 39 percent over a decade in Massachusetts, according to an analysis published online Jan. 5 in JAMA Internal Medicine. Elective PCIs saw the steepest decline.

The Department of Justice (DoJ) is taking the reins in two lawsuits filed against a Florida cardiologist who made headlines in 2014 for billing Medicare $18 million in one year. The DoJ alleges he performed medically unnecessary interventions and paid kickbacks to patients.

An estimated 8.5 million patients may have been tested for cardiac biomarkers despite the absence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) symptoms, according to a study published in the January issue of JAMA: Internal Medicine.

Abbott wrapped up 2014 by completing its acquisition of Topera, a company that develops electrophysiology technologies to diagnose and treat patients with atrial fibrillation.

The FDA approved Medtronic’s drug-coated balloon as a treatment for peripheral artery disease (PAD), giving physicians more options for treating patients with disease in the superficial femoral artery and the popliteal artery.

A meta-analysis of blood pressure monitoring studies supports closely monitoring patients at risk for hypertension and cardiovascular disease. This included support for using ambulatory methods on patients in order to prevent overdiagnosis due to office-related elevated blood pressure.

Continuing the debate over the so-called “obesity paradox,” more obese and overweight patients may develop heart failure, but fewer die from it than lean counterparts, according to a study published in the Dec. 30 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.