Cardiovascular Update: NEURESCUE CE Mark, HFpEF Pacing Trial, Bicuspid Valve Study and More
From groundbreaking EU approval of the first device for non-shockable cardiac arrest, to global trials testing novel pacing strategies in HFpEF, and first-in-human data for transcatheter MR repair—this week’s highlights signal major shifts in patient care and future practice.
In Today’s Newsletter
🫀 Pregabalin tied to higher incident HF vs gabapentin in older adults [1] [US • 17 Sep 2025]
Context: Medicare 20% sample; new users 65–89 years; no prior HF; 2015–2018 (observational).
Key point: HF incidence higher with pregabalin vs gabapentin; adjusted HR 1.48 (95% CI, 1.19–1.77).
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions; interpretation depends on study design and confounding control.
🧒 Clinically significant ectopy rare in pediatric/CHD cardiac rehab [2] [US • 17 Sep 2025]
Context: Retrospective review; 177 patients; 5,341 sessions; primary outcome VT/ectopy; JAHA.
Key point: Ectopy common but mostly benign; 7 patients with NSVT (no intervention), 1 sustained VT; adult age/systolic dysfunction raised risk.
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions; interpretation depends on study design and confounding control.
🩻 Mammogram-based AI predicts women’s cardiovascular risk [3] [AU • 16 Sep 2025]
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1097959
Context: George Institute model trained/validated on >49k routine mammograms; published in Heart (press release).
Key point: Mammographic features + age predicted major cardiac events with accuracy comparable to standard calculators (metrics not specified).
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions; interpretation depends on study design and confounding control.
💉 GLP-1 RAs linked to improved RA activity & CV risk markers [4] [US • 16 Sep 2025]
Context: Single-center, retrospective EHR study; BMI ≥27; semaglutide/tirzepatide vs prescribed-but-not-taken controls.
Key point: Greater reductions in RA activity, pain, weight, lipids, HbA1c in treatment group; discontinuations due to GI AEs/insurance.
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions; interpretation depends on study design and confounding control.
🧯 SYMPHONY-PE thrombectomy hits efficacy & safety endpoints in acute PE [5] [US • 18 Sep 2025]
Context: Prospective IDE trial (n=109) in intermediate-risk PE; 17 US sites; Circ: CV Interventions.
Key point: Significant RV/LV reduction vs goal; 0.9% MAE within 48h; no device-related SAEs; no 30-day mortality.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.
🇬🇧 UK wealth disparities in heart valve diagnosis delays [6] [UK • 19 Sep 2025]
https://cardiovascularnews.com/uk-survey-highlights-wealth-disparities-in-heart-valve-care/
Context: Heart Valve Voice survey (>300 patients) on diagnostic/treatment delays.
Key point: 75% in most deprived decile reported diagnostic delay vs 20.5% in least deprived; primary care recognition a key barrier.
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions; interpretation depends on study design and confounding control.
⏱️ SCAI “Door to Lactate Clearance” framework for cardiogenic shock [7] [US • 19 Sep 2025]
Context: SCAI SHOCK conference + JSCAI publication; guidance initiative.
Key point: Recommends lactate checks every 2–3h aiming for <2 mmol/L within 24h to standardize early CS response.
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions; interpretation depends on study design and confounding control.
🧪 Tissue-engineered coronary graft shows patency in primates [8] [US • 19 Sep 2025]
Context: JACC: Basic to Translational Science; 5 baboons; CTEV for CABG; 6-month follow-up (preclinical).
Key point: All grafts patent; recellularization/remodeling observed; company plans Q4 2025 IND.
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.
🚑 Subcutaneous GPIIb/IIIa (zalunfiban) meets Phase 3 topline in prehospital STEMI [9] [23 Sep 2025]
Context: CeleBrate trial; n=2,467; US/Canada/Mexico/Europe; prehospital single SC dose vs placebo.
Key point: Primary efficacy and safety endpoints met; full data planned for AHA 2025 (endpoints not specified).
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.
🔎 AI echocardiography for earlier cardiac amyloidosis detection [10] [US/UK • 23 Sep 2025]
Context: Ultromics EchoGo® Amyloidosis; >4,800 cases across 17 hospitals; ASE 2025 abstract; broader dataset AUC 0.93.
Key point: Improved referral accuracy in low-prevalence settings; fewer unnecessary referrals in higher-prevalence sites.
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions; interpretation depends on study design and confounding control.
Why it matters
- Routine imaging + AI (mammography, echocardiography) may shift prevention and referral at population scale.
- Observational pharmaco-safety/benefit signals (gabapentinoids; GLP-1 in RA) can steer prescribing in multi-morbidity.
- Time-critical innovations (PE thrombectomy; prehospital STEMI antiplatelet) target major mortality drivers.
- Equity gaps in valve pathways point to primary/secondary care diagnostic capacity as a policy lever.
📢 Stay Ahead in Cardiovascular Research!
✅ Contact LucidQuest at info@lqventures.com for strategic guidance on Cardiovascular innovations and research.
FAQ
Does pregabalin increase HF risk vs gabapentin in seniors with chronic pain? [1]
Yes, in Medicare data pregabalin initiation was associated with higher incident HF vs gabapentin (observational; residual confounding possible). Clinicians may reassess CV risk before prescribing.
Are arrhythmias a barrier to pediatric/CHD cardiac rehab? [2]
Serious events were rare across >5,000 sessions; ectopy was common but mostly benign. Adult age and reduced systolic function increased risk—favoring targeted precautions over avoidance.
How would mammogram-based CV risk screening be deployed? [3]
The AI uses mammograms plus age to estimate risk without extra clinical data. As a press-release claim, broader peer-reviewed performance details and implementation studies are needed.
Do GLP-1 RAs help RA disease control directly? [4]
Users showed improved RA activity and metabolic markers vs non-users in a retrospective study. Causality isn’t proven; prospective trials are needed.
What did SYMPHONY-PE show? [5]
It met prespecified RV/LV efficacy goals with low early MAE and no device-related SAEs, supporting safety/efficiency for intermediate-risk PE pending more data.
Entities / Keywords
Pregabalin; Gabapentin; Heart failure; Pediatric cardiology; Cardiac rehabilitation; CHD; Mammography AI; Cardiovascular risk; GLP-1 RA (Semaglutide, Tirzepatide); Rheumatoid arthritis; Imperative Care SYMPHONY-PE; Pulmonary embolism; Heart Valve Voice (UK); Health disparities; SCAI Door to Lactate Clearance; Cardiogenic shock; Humacyte CTEV/ATEV; CABG; CeleCor zalunfiban/DisaggproT; STEMI; Ultromics EchoGo® Amyloidosis; Cardiac amyloidosis.
References
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1097959
https://cardiovascularnews.com/uk-survey-highlights-wealth-disparities-in-heart-valve-care/