As expected, the FDA approved evolocumab (Repatha) on Aug. 27, providing an option for patients who struggle to lower their low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol with statins. In July, the FDA had approved alirocumab (Praluent), which like evolocumab is a proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor.

Two studies detected a gene that was associated with life-threatening heart rhythms that can lead to sudden cardiac death if not treated.

The FDA approved evolocumab (Repatha) on Aug. 27, the second in a new class of cholesterol-lowering medications called proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors.

Stereotaxis, Inc. (NASDAQ:STXS) and Westmead Hospital in Australia today announced findings of a recent study comparing the stability of a Niobe(R) remote magnetic navigation system catheter group and a manually controlled catheter group in a validated cardiac wall motion simulator.

Among older adults with mild cognitive deficits, discontinuing the use of antihypertensive medications did not improve their cognitive, psychological and general daily functioning.

Obese individuals with atrial fibrillation had a decreased risk of arrhythmia recurrence if they improved their cardiorespiratory fitness, according to an Australian observational study. The researchers found a gain in cardiorespiratory fitness provided a 12 percent incremental improvement over weight loss in long-term freedom from atrial fibrillation.

Since 1979, coronary heart disease mortality rates have significantly decreased in the U.S., although they differ depending on age and sex. The rates for men and women under age 55 have remained relatively consistent and stagnated since 2000, according to a study published online in Circulation on Aug. 24. During that same time period, the rates for people 65 and older have rapidly declined.

More than one-third of adults older than 79 years old used statins in 2011 to 2012 for primary prevention, a statistically significant increase from fewer than 10 percent in 1999 to 2000, according to a survey of community-dwelling U.S. adults.