Cardiology

Millions of people now start their day with a number—a “readiness” score, a “body battery”” level or a measure of “strain””—delivered by the wearable device on their wrist or finger. But how much trust should we place in these scores?

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have developed an AI tool that creates synthetic yet medically accurate models of fibrotic heart tissue (heart scarring), aiding treatment planning for atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. The study, published in Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, could lead to more personalized care for patients affected by this common heart rhythm disorder.

Hydrogels, which are soft materials formed by cross-linking polymers, could have a variety of medical applications. In research published in Advanced Science, investigators developed an injectable hydrogel containing components of fish swim bladders and used it to repair damaged heart tissue.

Research has found that handheld electro-shockers commonly used for self-defense can potentially interact with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) such as pacemakers, putting individuals at risk.

Hearing loss is linked to a heightened risk of developing heart failure, with the psychological distress caused by the impairment taking a key role in the observed association, finds a large long-term study, published online in the journal Heart.

Although sedentary behavior may be an evolutionarily selected trait, it is still important to try to be physically active, says a new study conducted at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. Researchers have shown for the first time that genetic predisposition to sedentary behavior is associated with a higher risk of developing the most common cardiovascular diseases. A high genetic predisposition to sedentary behavior can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases by up to 20%.

Recognizing and detecting the signs that commonly precede sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) may help to prevent premature deaths, according to research presented today at ESC Preventive Cardiology 2025, a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

For patients with mainly mild posterior circulation ischemic stroke who do not receive thrombectomy, alteplase administered at 4.5 to 24 hours after onset results in higher frequency of functional independence at 90 days compared with standard medical care, according to a study published in the April 3 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Women who have experienced preeclampsia have accelerated accumulation of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors compared with women who had pregnancies without preeclampsia according to research presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Preventive Cardiology congress 2025.

Using intravascular imaging (IVI) to guide stent implantation during complex stenting procedures is safer and more effective for patients with severely calcified coronary artery disease than conventional angiography, the more commonly used technique.