TCT Highlights

Hypertension is the leading modifiable risk factor for global cardiovascular disease, responsible for an estimated 10.8 million deaths and more than 200 million disability-adjusted life years annually.1 Despite the availability of effective pharmacological and lifestyle interventions, prevalence continues to rise, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where over three-quarters of all cases now occur.2 The condition’s […]

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in young adults (typically defined as individuals younger than 40 years) has emerged as an important yet under-recognized public health concern. Recent estimates suggest an incidence of approximately 1–4 cases per 100,000 person-years, underscoring the clinical and epidemiological relevance of SCA in this younger population.1 SCA is a life-threatening medical emergency […]

After decades of debate, patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure is now a well-established strategy to reduce recurrent stroke in patients aged 18–60 years who have had a PFO-associated stroke.1 Patients who underwent PFO closure continue to have a higher stroke risk than the general population. A recent study demonstrated a 2.1% higher stroke rate in the […]

Hypertension affects over 1.4 billion adults worldwide and remains the leading modifiable risk factor for global cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. It is responsible for an estimated 10.8 million deaths annually and contributes significantly to the global burden of ischaemic heart disease, stroke, heart failure and chronic kidney disease (CKD).1 Despite the availability of safe, effective antihypertensive […]

Hypertension has been associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, as well as with overall elevated all-cause mortality.1 Prevalence increases with age, affecting 28.5% of US individuals aged 20–44 years, 58.6% of those aged 45–64 years and 76.5% of those aged 65 years and older.2 In addition to its clinical burden, hypertension poses a substantial economic […]

Cardiovascular medicine continues to advance at a remarkable pace, driven by innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration and an ever-deepening understanding of disease mechanisms. As patient populations age and chronic conditions become increasingly complex, the field stands at the intersection of precision therapy, digital health and preventive strategy. This winter issue of Heart International reflects that transformation, highlighting […]

Heart failure (HF) is a complex and progressive clinical syndrome that significantly impacts morbidity, mortality and quality of life (QoL).1 On a global scale, HF has become an escalating public health concern, affecting more than 64 million individuals in 2017, and this number is still expected to continue increasing each year.1,2 Based on echocardiographic results from cohort studies […]

Heart failure (HF) is a global health burden, with a 2019 prevalence of 711.90 per 100,000 population, totalling 56.19 million cases and 5.05 million years lived with disability, despite only modest declines since 1990.1 Recent years have shown an uptick in prevalence, driven by ageing populations and improved diagnostics, with disparities persisting between high- and low-sociodemographic […]

The Evolut Low Risk trial (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement With the Medtronic Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement System In Patients at Low Risk for Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02701283) provides reassuring evidence that transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remains non-inferior to surgery at 5-year follow-up in low-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS).1 This editorial discusses […]