HEART INTERNATIONAL – VOLUME 19, ISSUE 1 – 2025

Cardiovascular medicine stands at a pivotal crossroads—shaped by rapid advances in precision therapies, a deepening understanding of disease mechanisms, and an urgent imperative to address global health disparities. As the burden of cardiovascular disease continues to evolve, so too does the need for nuanced, evidence-based approaches that span the full spectrum of care: from prevention […]

New-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is associated with increased risk of stroke, morbidity, mortality, respiratory failure and pneumonia, with additional treatment and thus increased postoperative cost.1–3 Clinical efforts to prevent and manage life-threatening complications after cardiac surgeries, such as POAF, have posed a significant challenge.4 Despite numerous trials investigating prophylactic and treatment approaches, POAF following cardiac […]

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to be the primary cause of mortality and morbidity globally with middle-aged women presenting with additional and possibly, overlooked risk factors.1 Despite several awareness programmes, there remain several gaps in the political education and representation needs of this group, which includes those from low socioeconomic status (SES) and culturally diverse backgrounds. These […]

Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is an inexorably progressive and ultimately fatal cardiomyopathy characterized by the deposition of misfolded transthyretin (TTR) in the form of amyloid fibrils within the myocardium.1 Transthyretin amyloid (ATTR) fibrils are insoluble protease–resistant beta-pleated sheets that are stabilized within the extracellular matrix, disrupting the integrity, structure and function of the myocardium.2 ATTR-amyloid fibril […]

Conduction system pacing (CSP) is being increasingly adopted as a more physiological alternative to right ventricular and biventricular pacing and is an integral part of the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) core curriculum for the device specialist.1–6 Left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) has become the dominant form of CSP due to its greater perceived ease […]

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic cardiac abnormality characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction, primarily attributed to mutations in genes that encode sarcomeric proteins.1,2 The disease manifests in two broad phenotypes: obstructive HCM (oHCM), defined by dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO), and non-obstructive HCM (nHCM), which lacks significant left ventricular outflow tract gradients (LVOTGs).3 The […]

Functional status refers to an individual’s ability to carry out different levels of activities to meet the needs of daily living.1 Patients with heart failure (HF) commonly have poor functional status that is affected by a number of physical, psychological, social and behavioural risk factors. Poor functional status is associated with markedly impaired quality of life […]

The foramen ovale, an obligatory channel, allows placental oxygenated blood to directly reach the fetal arterial circulation and remains patent in 25% of the adult population.1 Patency provides a potential gateway for venous emboli to reach the arterial circulation, potentially resulting in systemic embolus or stroke (now termed ‘patent foramen ovale [PFO]-associated stroke’).2 Preventive strategies for recurrent […]