In this issue of Heart International, we are delighted to present a collection of insightful articles that encompass a wide spectrum of topics within the field of cardiovascular medicine. As we navigate the landscape of cardiovascular disease, heart failure, preventative cardiology, interventional procedures and the latest advancements in research, we find ourselves on the cutting edge of knowledge and innovation.
The issue begins with Myriam Kaddour and Haran Burri reviewing the potential of conduction system pacing as a game-changer in cardiac pacing strategies, whilst comparing it against traditional strategies. Conduction system pacing has recently emerged as delivering a more physiological form of pacing, becoming a mainstream practice in a growing number of centres globally.
Next, we explore the relationship between sarcopenic obesity and cardiovascular health by Aditya John Binu et al. This insightful review sheds light on the complex interplay between muscle mass, obesity and cardiovascular risk.
We shift our focus to a comprehensive review by Ioannis Boutsikos et al. summarizing the latest evidence regarding the multiple effects of sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors on patients across a spectrum of cardiovascular diseases.
Holly Morgan et al. offer valuable guidance in a review exploring the assessment and management of cardiac risk before non-cardiac surgery. As we strive to pursue a holistic approach to patient care, the importance of patient, surgical and preoperative cardiac risk assessment cannot be overstated, and this article provides crucial insight into data on perioperative revascularisation and other risk reduction strategies.
Moving forward, we present a review by Erin Michos et al. on bempedoic acid, a novel, first-in-class, oral small molecule as a treatment option to lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in patients with hypercholesterolemia. This article explores a promising additional therapeutic option for managing hypercholesterolemia, an ever-persistent risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Finally, we come to a review article by Gustavo Moreira and Humberto Villacorta explores the complexities in the management of acute heart failure, with a focus on diuretics. This review offers valuable insights into optimizing diuretic therapy for improved patient outcomes.
We hope that this issue of Heart International serves as a source of knowledge, inspiration, and guidance for healthcare professionals dedicated to caring for patients with cardiovascular disease.
We would like to thank the authors and reviewers for their invaluable contributions, and our readers for your continued support and commitment to advancing cardiovascular medicine. We look forward to the discoveries and innovations that lie ahead, as we continue our collective journey toward improved cardiovascular health.
Magdi El-Omar
Dr Magdi El-Omar is a consultant interventional cardiologist at the Manchester Heart Centre and an honorary senior lecturer at the University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. He graduated from St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London, UK, in 1988 and undertook his postgraduate general medical training in London and Oxford. He then completed his general cardiology training in Birmingham, Oxford and Wales before subspecializing in coronary intervention. The latter included a 2.5-year clinical/research fellowship in interventional cardiology at the Cardiovascular Research Foundation and the New York University Medical Centre, New York, NY, USA. During his time there, he worked closely with leaders in the field, including doctors Greg Stone, Martin Leon, Gary Roubin, Frederick Feit and Aaron Marcus. Dr El-Omar has been involved in research for over 25 years. He undertook a 2-year British Heart Foundation Junior Research Fellowship in basic science (diabetic cardiomyopathy in a rat model) in 1997–8, which led to the award of an MD degree from the University of London. He has since been actively involved in clinical research, especially in the fields of acute coronary syndromes and coronary intervention. He has authored more than 65 peer-reviewed articles, mostly in high-impact journals. He has been a local principal investigator for several landmark, international, multicentre trials (e.g. HORIZONS-AMI, INFUSE-AMI, TOTAL, TWILIGHT, etc.). He is actively involved in education and training and is a course co-director of the International Complex Cardiovascular Catheter Therapeutics Conference in the USA.
