Dec 19 2025 This Week in Cardiology

CAC 0 takes a gut punch, ICD therapies cannot be surrogates for benefit, and two important trials from ESC are the topics John Mandrola, MD, discusses in this week's podcast. This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals only. To read a partial transcript or to comment, visit: https://www.medscape.com/twic I CAC 0 LDL-C and CVD Risk With CAC Score 0 https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/advance-article/doi/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf497/8228645 II ICD Therapies Contemporary ICD Benefit https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacep.2025.06.028 PROFID Trial https://profid-project.eu/profid-ehra-trial/ MADIT-RIT Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1211107 Declining Risk of Sudden Death in HF https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1609758 III Digit-HF DIGIT-HF Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2415471 Digoxin–Mortality: Comparison in the DIG trial https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/40/40/3336/5520008 IV POTCAST POTCAST trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2509542 ESC Preview IV HTN Guidelines New Blood Pressure Guidelines: 4 Things I Like and 2 Concerns https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/new-blood-pressure-guidelines-4-thing-i-and-2-concerns-2025a1000m1x You may also like: The Bob Harrington Show with the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine, Robert A. Harrington, MD. https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington Questions or feedback, please contact news@medscape.net

29 Elo 202534min

John Mandrola discusses conduction system pacing vs standard pacing, withdrawing HF meds when AF is corrected and patient selection in LAAO. This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals only. To read a partial transcript or to comment, visit: https://www.medscape.com/twic I Conduction System Pacing CSPACE trial https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2025.06.043 BLOCK HF trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1210356 BioPace trial https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euaf029 II  Withdrawing Meds After AF Corrected WITHDRAW AF https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf563 TRED HF https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30429050/ III Patient Selection in Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Long-Term Outcomes Following LAAO in Medicare Beneficiaries: Outcomes From the National Cardiovascular Data Registry https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.124.039780 ESC Preview IV HTN Guidelines New Blood Pressure Guidelines: 4 Things I Like and 2 Concerns https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/new-blood-pressure-guidelines-4-thing-i-and-2-concerns-2025a1000m1x You may also like: The Bob Harrington Show with the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine, Robert A. Harrington, MD. https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington Questions or feedback, please contact news@medscape.net

22 Elo 202526min

Big new hypertension guidelines, ultraprocessed foods, coronary sinus reduction and evidence-based medicine, and more news on pulsed field ablation for atrial fibrillation are the topics John Mandrola, MD, discusses in this week's podcast. This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals only. To read a partial transcript or to comment, visit: https://www.medscape.com/twic I HTN Guidelines BP Meds Should Begin Promptly, New ACC/AHA Guidelines Say https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/bp-meds-should-begin-promptly-new-acc-aha-guidelines-say-2025a1000lms Guideline for Management of High Blood Pressure https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001356 BPROAD trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2412006 Trial Score Framework https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6459598/ II UltraProcessed Foods AHA statement on Ultraprocessed Foods and Cardiometabolic Health https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001365 III Refractory Angina and the Coronary Sinus Reducer – A Lesson in EBM Coronary Sinus Reducer Shows Promise, With Caveats https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/coronary-sinus-reducer-shows-promise-caveats-2025a1000l76 Coronary Sinus Reducer — Meta-analysis https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jcin.2025.06.012 COSIRA II Trial https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05102019 IV Pulsed Field Ablation Still Looking Strong Management of OACs After PFA 10.1016/j.hrthm.2025.03.1952 External Link You may also like: The Bob Harrington Show with the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine, Robert A. Harrington, MD. https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington Questions or feedback, please contact news@medscape.net

15 Elo 202523min

Listener feedback on SURPASS CVOT, AF ablation and the limits of meta-analyses, a Watchman alert from FDA, and oral anticoagulation choices in elderly patients are discussed by John Mandola, MD, in this week's podcast. This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals only. To read a partial transcript or to comment, visit: https://www.medscape.com/twic I SURPASS CVOT This Week in Cardiology Podcast, August 1 https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/1002781 Mounjaro Appears More Heart Protective Than Trulicity in Trial Of Eli Lilly Diabetes Drugs https://www.medscape.com/s/viewarticle/mounjaro-proves-more-heart-protective-than-trulicity-trial-2025a1000kct II Catheter and Surgical AF ablation Catheter and Surgical Ablation for AF: Meta-Analysis https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/ANNALS-25-00253 III Watchman Air Embolism Alerts Looming Pay Cut to LAAO Triggers Objection From Card Groups https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/looming-pay-cut-laao-triggers-objection-card-groups-2025a1000l0j FDA Alert https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/medical-device-recalls/early-alert-watchman-access-system-issue-boston-scientific IV Switching Oral Anticoagulants in Frail Older Adults Patients FRAIL AF Trial https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.123.066485 COMBINE AF Substudy https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2025.05.060 The Most Important Study From ESC: FRAIL-AF https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/996063 You may also like: The Bob Harrington Show with the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine, Robert A. Harrington, MD. https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington Questions or feedback, please contact news@medscape.net

8 Elo 202531min

Exercise and CV outcomes, aldosterone modulation, AI for ECG reading, GLP-1 comparisons, end-of-life decisions, and another well-meaning policy that caused harm in veterans are discussed by John Mandrola, MD, in this week's podcast. This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals only. To read a partial transcript or to comment, visit: https://www.medscape.com/twic I Exercise and CV outcomes II Aldosterone Modulation in Cardio-Kidney Disease Aldosterone and Aldosterone Modulation https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2025.06.012 Randomized Aldactone Evaluation Study https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199909023411001 III AI vs MD ECG-Reading for Cath Lab Activation Accuracy of Cath Lab Activation Decisions https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2025.07.061 IV Tirzepatide vs Dulaglutide - SURPASS CVOT Study Eli Lilly Press Release https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lillys-mounjaro-tirzepatide-gipglp-1-dual-agonist-demonstrated REWIND Study 10.1016/S0140-6736(19)31149-3 External Link V End-of-Life Decisions Doctors' Own End-of-Life Choices Defy Common Medical Practice https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/doctors-own-end-life-choices-defy-common-medical-practice-2025a1000k01 Physicians' Preferences for Their Own End of Life https://jme.bmj.com/content/early/2025/06/05/jme-2024-110192 How US Doctors Die: A Cohort Study https://agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jgs.14112 VI Well-Meaning Policies That Make Sense The Mission Act and Cardiovascular Procedures https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2837067 You may also like: The Bob Harrington Show with the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine, Robert A. Harrington, MD. https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington Questions or feedback, please contact news@medscape.net

1 Elo 202530min

The VENTOUX study of endurance athletes, the 10,000 step myth was not busted, rate vs rhythm control for AF, and GLP1 drugs and observational studies are the topics John Mandrola, MD, discusses in this week's podcast. This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals only. To read a partial transcript or to comment, visit: https://www.medscape.com/twic I Endurance Athletes and Arrhythmia (again) VENTOUX trial https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.125.018470 II Daily Step Count and Health — no myths were busted. Lancet Public Health: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(25)00164-1 III Rate vs Rhythm Control of AF Medscape: Everyone Deserves a Shot at the American Dream: Sinus Rhythm https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/everyone-deserves-shot-american-dream-sinus-rhythm-2025a1000jle This Week in Cardiology, July 11, 2025 https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/1002704 AFFIRM trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa021328 AFFIRM substudy https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/486560 IV GLP-1 Drugs and Observational Studies Neurodegeneration and Stroke After Semaglutide and Tirzepatide https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2836412 SUSTAIN-6 https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1607141 SELECT Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2307563 You may also like: The Bob Harrington Show with the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine, Robert A. Harrington, MD. https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington Questions or feedback, please contact news@medscape.net

25 Heinä 202531min

Finerenone, what not to consider when choosing treatment of AS, brain health after atrial fibrillation ablation, early rhythm control for AF, and Watchman reimbursement cuts are discussed by John Mandrola, MD, in this week's podcast. This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals only. To read a partial transcript or to comment, visit: https://www.medscape.com/twic I Finerenone FDA Widens Indication of Finerenone for Heart Failure Patients https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/fda-widens-indication-finerenone-heart-failure-patients-2025a1000ive FDA finerenone approval https://bayer2019tf.q4web.com/news/news-details/2025/U-S--FDA-Approves-KERENDIA-finerenone-to-Treat-Patients-With-Heart-Failure-With-Left-Ventricular-Ejection-Fraction-40-Following-Priority-Review/default.aspx FINEARTS-HF trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2407107 II Choosing TAVI or Surgical AVR Carbon Emission when treating AS EHJ study https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf379 III Brain Lesions and Visual Migraine After Left-Sided Ablations Post-Ablation Visual Auras a Sign of Transient Brain Injury?https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/post-ablation-visual-auras-sign-transient-brain-injury-2025a1000iro TRAVERSE Trial https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.124.071352 TRAVERSE Migraine Substudy https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2025.06.035 IV Early Rhythm Control for AF EHJ Rapid Communication https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf397 EAST-AFNET 4 Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2019422 V Watchman Cuts CMS Reduces LAAO Value in Proposed Fee Schedule https://www.acc.org/Latest-in-Cardiology/Articles/2025/07/15/20/08/CMS-Reduces-LAAO-Value-in-Proposed-2026 You may also like: The Bob Harrington Show with the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine, Robert A. Harrington, MD. https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington Questions or feedback, please contact news@medscape.net

18 Heinä 202532min

Approval of first-generation devices, the ticagrelor controversy, ICD longevity, the PRAGUE-25 trial (one of the most important trials of the year), and some thoughts on the end of EP as a profession are the topics John Mandrola, MD, discusses in this week's podcast. This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals only. To read a partial transcript or to comment, visit: https://www.medscape.com/twic I More Ticagrelor Controversy BMJ Investigation Finds More Concerns in Ticagrelor Trials https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/investigation-bmj-raises-more-concerns-about-ticagrelor-2025a1000gh3 Ticagrelor PLATO study https://www.bmj.com/content/389/bmj.r1201 Ticagrelor vs Clopidogrel https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa0904327 Review of the Ticagrelor Trials Evidence Base https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.123.031606 The Plato Trial: Do you believe in magic? https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehp545 ONSET/OFFSET Antiplatelet Effects https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/circulationaha.109.912550 RESPOND Study https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/circulationaha.109.919456 II ICD Battery Longevity Variability in ICD Battery Longevity https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2025.05.031 PRAGUE-25 Trial of AF Ablation vs LFM PRAGUE-25 Trial https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2025.04.042 You may also like: The Bob Harrington Show with the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine, Robert A. Harrington, MD. https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington Questions or feedback, please contact news@medscape.net

11 Heinä 202526min