Cardiovascular Disease News and Research

Latest Cardiovascular Disease News and Research

Study: Use of continuous combined oral contraceptives may reduce bone mass loss

Women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) become estrogen deficient at an early age, which makes them more vulnerable to the loss of bone mineral density.

24 Jun 2020

Evidence of link between ACE2 genotype and COVID-19 disease severity

A new study published on the preprint server medRxiv in June 2020 shows that variants in the ACE2 gene which encodes the enzyme receptor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes COVID-19 disease, are linked to the risk of severe disease.

24 Jun 2020

Smoking increases risk of COVID-19 for men but not women

Even as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread over the world, scientists have had to come to terms with the fact that they don’t know much about the SARS-CoV-2 or the disease it causes. Now, a new study by researchers at the University College Cork, Ireland, and published on the preprint server medRxiv in June 2020 discusses the differences in COVID-19 risk between men and women who smoke.

23 Jun 2020

Air pollution contributes to cardiovascular disease risk in low, middle and high-income countries

From low-income countries to high-income countries, long-term exposure to fine particulate outdoor air pollution is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease and death, a new Oregon State University study found.

23 Jun 2020

Heart failure poses the greatest risk of death for people with type 2 diabetes

Heart failure posed the greatest 5-year risk of death for people newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes than any other heart or kidney disease, according to new research published today in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, an American Heart Association journal.

23 Jun 2020

Research shows females use anti-inflammatory T cells to maintain their blood pressure

In the face of a multipronged front to drive blood pressure up, including a high-salt diet, females are better able to keep their pressure down by increasing levels of a T cell that selectively dials back inflammation, scientists say.

23 Jun 2020

New, five-minute urine test measures the health of a person's diet

Scientists have completed large-scale tests on a new type of five-minute urine test that measures the health of a person's diet, and produces an individual's unique urine 'fingerprint'.

22 Jun 2020

Little-used measure of good cholesterol can predict heart attack and stroke risk

For decades, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol has been dubbed "good cholesterol" because of its role in moving fats and other cholesterol molecules out of artery walls.

22 Jun 2020

Simulation model reveals how sugary drink tax designs could impact health gains, costs

A simulation model of different designs of taxes on sugary drinks, which are linked to obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, suggests that all tax designs would generate substantial health gains as well as lower health costs in the U.S., according to new research published today in the American Heart Association's flagship journal Circulation.

22 Jun 2020

The underlying cause of ethnic differences in COVID-19 remains unexplained

Higher rates of severe COVID-19 infections in Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) populations are not explained by socioeconomic or behavioral factors, cardiovascular disease risk, or by vitamin D status, according to new research led by Queen Mary University of London.

21 Jun 2020

Blood types and COVID-19 risk confirmed

Blood type may play a pivotal role in driving disease severity among coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients. Genetic analysis of COVID-19 patients has shown that people with blood type O seemed to be protected against severe disease. In contrast, those with blood type A may experience complications tied to the viral infection.

18 Jun 2020

Crystal structure of SARS-CoV-2 protease-inhibitor in complex with a Chinese herb Shikonin

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus has been spreading rampantly over the whole world, infecting millions of people (over 8.45 million at last count), with over 452,000 deaths, as of June 19, 2020. It causes a broad spectrum of disease manifestations, from asymptomatic disease to severe or even fatal respiratory symptoms.

18 Jun 2020

COVID-19 and blood group in aortic valve replacement

The COVID-19 pandemic has been found to cause disproportionate harm in patients with cardiovascular disease, especially among the elderly population, among other risk factors. However, a new study published on the preprint server medRxiv* in June 2020 is the first to report its clinical features in patients with aortic stenosis who have had a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

18 Jun 2020

Scientists develop peptides that restore balance in gut bacteria and reverse atherosclerosis

Now, a team of scientists at Scripps Research has developed new molecules that can restore the balance in gut bacteria in the intestines and as a result, lowers cholesterol levels and reverses the narrowing of the arteries, also known as atherosclerosis.

18 Jun 2020

Researchers launch Canada's first post-operative virtual care study

A team of researchers and health care providers at Hamilton Health Sciences and McMaster University have launched Canada's first study to remotely manage patients after surgery.

17 Jun 2020

Low potassium levels in COVID-19 disease

Now a new study by an Italian team of researchers published in June 2020 on the preprint server medRxiv reports that potassium levels are often low in COVID-19 disease, mostly due to the urinary loss of potassium.

17 Jun 2020

ACE2 and pattern recognition receptor genes increase with age

A recent study by researchers in California and published on the preprint server bioRxiv* in June 2020 shows that advancing age is associated with increased expression of pattern recognition receptor (PRR) genes and ACE2 receptors, possibly accounting in part for the increased severity of the disease in older adults.

17 Jun 2020

'Microbial dark matter' can affect cholesterol levels in humans

In the darkest parts of the world where light fails to block out the unfathomable bounty of the stars, look up. There are still fewer specks illuminating the universe than there are bacteria in the world, hidden from sight, a whole universe inside just one human gut.

17 Jun 2020

22 nonprofit organizations funded to support the needs of families in response to COVID-19

Voices for Healthy Kids, an initiative of the American Heart Association -- the world's leading voluntary organization dedicated to a world of longer, healthier lives -- announced that 22 nonprofit organizations have been awarded COVID-19 Rapid Response Grants to support the needs of families in response to the pandemic.

16 Jun 2020

Study shows lean beef does not adversely affect diabetes and heart health

Results from a new study show that risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes were similar when participants consumed a healthy US-style eating pattern with and without an additional 5.3 ounces of lean beef.

16 Jun 2020