Erectile dysfunction (ED) has been proposed as a harbinger of coronary artery disease. In the November issue of the Journal of Men’s Health, two physicians suggest that ED and hypertension may be linked as well.

Heart failure patients who have higher heart rates at discharge may face a higher risk of dying or being readmitted within 30 days, according to a study published online Dec. 2 in Circulation: Heart Failure.

Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT), announced today CE Mark (Conformité Européenne) in Europe and Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) listing in Australia for its highly flexible 4 Fr multi-electrode Symplicity Spyral™ catheter and Symplicity G3™ radio frequency (RF) generator. 

Despite significant medical advances, there continue to be significant gaps in the health care of the growing number of patients with valvular heart disease. In the USA, the total number of people aged 65 years or older with valvular heart disease will grow to approximately 5.2 million by year 2020, and 6.8 million individuals by the year 2030 1. The Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation™ (MHIF) has created a scientific program, "Valve Summit 2014: The Science and Delivery of Optimal, Multi-Disciplinary Care," to address the ongoing, complex evolution in the clinical management of patients with valvular heart disease. The conference will be held on April 25th and 26th at the Radisson Blu in downtown Minneapolis.

The number of stroke deaths decreased considerably throughout the 20th century, and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association wrote in a scientific statement published in the January 2014 issue of Stroke that the trend is the result of the aggressive management of risk factors.

Endocarditis continues to cause considerable morbidity and mortality among older Americans, according to a study published Dec. 10 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Although guidelines called for a reduction in the use of antibiotic prophylaxis for endocarditis, the rates of hospitalization and mortality have not increased, but remain high.

The FDA advised consumers and first responders to monitor the readiness of some HeartStart automated external defibrillators (AEDs), which it warned may fail to deliver a shock in an emergency.

A combination of PCI and medical therapy did not lead to better outcomes in patients with stable coronary artery disease and MI compared with medical therapy alone, a review published online Dec. 2 in JAMA Internal Medicine found.