Heart Health

Cardiovascular-Related Innovations from 2021

2021 was a big year for cardiovascular health research study and innovations. See how much progress we made last year.

StudyPages

Feb 12, 2022 • 4 min read

With COVID-19 being such a massive focus in the medical community over the last 2 years, it has been very easy to overlook other significant medical innovations. While the country has lost many Americans to the pandemic, at least 800,000 people die from cardiovascular diseases each year in the U.S. Therefore, research in the realm of cardiovascular health is still extremely important. Since February is American Heart Health Month, now is a great opportunity to celebrate some of the lesser-known cardiovascular and heart health advancements. Here are 5 cardiovascular-related innovations from 2021:

Diabetes Drugs That Also Benefit Heart Health

Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Agonists

Semaglutide, a GLP-1 agonist that was regularly used to treat Type 2 diabetes, has recently been approved by the FDA as a drug for weight loss for people who are overweight and obese. Losing weight from this drug can then help patients strengthen their hearts and their functions.

In addition, researchers conducted an international study called AMPLITUDE-O for people with Type 2 diabetes who also have a history of cardiovascular disease or kidney disease with a risk for cardiovascular disease. The study included 4,000 participants, and each person was given weekly injections of the drug, Efpeglenatide, which is another GLP-1 agonist. Efpeglenatide helped to improve risk factors, as well as reduce the likelihood of a stroke, heart attack, or death due to cardiovascular diseases by 27%.

SGLT2 Inhibitors

Furthermore, Dr. Lloyd-Jones, president of the American Heart Association, described a successful trial using a diabetes drug. The drug, Sotagliflozin, known as Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 (SGLT2), is an inhibitor and is generally used for treating diabetes. However, SGLT2 has expanded its potential beyond just treating Type 2 Diabetes. in the trial, the drug, along with Empagliflozin, proved to be effective for reducing death caused by cardiovascular disease, as well as for treating heart failure. Moreover, it is also possible that SGLT2 inhibitors may help heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction (refers to the strength of the heart’s left ventricle), which is a condition without many treatment options. Click here for more details about the trial!

2. Administering a Flu Vaccine Can Help Patients with Heart Disease

A recent study found that administering a flu vaccine within 72 hours of a heart attack or an invasive coronary procedure may continue to benefit people even after the flu season ends. 1,272 patients with heart disease received a flu shot, while 1,260 patients received a placebo. The patient's health was also tracked for an entire year. The results concluded that in comparison to the patients who only received the placebo, the vaccinated patients had a 28% reduced probability of dying, getting a heart attack, or a clot in a coronary stent. Additionally, the vaccinated patients had 41% less of a chance of dying from cardiovascular disease.

3. A “Salt Substitute” to Prevent the Risk of Stroke and Cardiovascular Events

A study was conducted in a village in China where people eat less processed foods but eat a decent amount of salt. The study included 20,995 participants who had a history of stroke or who were over the age of 60 and had high blood pressure. The participants were given a “salt substitute” that consisted of 75% sodium chloride and 25% potassium chloride. The study was conducted over 5 years, and the results found that after using the sodium chloride and potassium chloride mixture, the rates of stroke, cardiovascular events, and death were reduced due to the “salt substitute.”

4. An AI System That Analyzes Eye Scans to Recognize Risk of Heart Attack

Doctors have found that vascular disease and heart problems can be recognized by changes to the small blood vessels in the retina. A novel AI system was trained by researchers at the University of Leeds to analyze eye scans automatically, and then identify if a person is likely to have a heart attack. The AI system has had an accuracy of 70%-80%. This technology can change the way doctors diagnose or identify patients who may be at risk for a heart attack within the year. When people go to visit their optician for a regular exam, the AI system will be able to read the retinal scan and recognize a patient who is at high risk of a heart attack.

5. Mechanical Hearts for Treating Heart Failure

A small study conducted about mechanical hearts enabled researchers to discover the profound effect that this technology has on a failing heart. This study showed that the mechanical heart can produce muscle tissue in a failing heart. The left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) demonstrated that they have the ability to regenerate metabolic activity in dormant myocardial parts. After achieving such success, researchers want to replicate the impressive results in a much larger study. If the larger studies also succeed, many lives can be saved and heart failure can be treated.

Though these studies and innovations may not be widely acknowledged, the advances in cardiology are still very exciting. Additionally, we have the opportunity to participate in heart health studies, and potentially contribute to more medical breakthroughs in the future. 2021 has clearly been a great year for heart health research, and hopefully, 2022 will be just as successful, if not more.

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