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Cardiovascular Quality and Research News

ACC CV Quality SmartBrief

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  • Sarcoidosis linked to higher mortality in heart failure

    Patients with heart failure and sarcoidosis face a higher mortality risk compared with those with heart failure caused by ischemic heart disease or dilated cardiomyopathy, according to a study in the Journal of the American Heart Association. The analysis of data from the Swedish Heart Failure Registry found that sarcoidosis was also associated with increased morbidity when compared with dilated cardiomyopathy. Cardiology Advisor (12/12) Learn More

  • AASM provides conditional guidance for OSA inpatients

    The American Academy of Sleep Medicine released a clinical practice guideline for managing obstructive sleep apnea in hospitalized adults. The guidance, published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, includes four conditional recommendations: In-hospital OSA screening, use of positive airway pressure therapy for untreated patients, sleep medicine consultations and discharge management plans. "The high prevalence of sleep apnea and some evidence supporting the association of sleep apnea with worse inpatient clinical outcomes and increased readmissions provides a strong rationale for the need for such guidance," said Reena Mehra, lead author. Healio (free registration) (12/16) Learn More

  • L.A. wildfires led to spike in ED visits for heart, lung problems

    A study in JACC found a 46% increase in emergency department visits for heart attack and a 24% hike in patients with respiratory issues following the January 2025 wildfires in Los Angeles. Overall illness-related ER visits increased 118%. "Our research suggests the Eaton and Pacific Palisades fires had an immediate effect on people's health," said researcher Susan Cheng. HealthDay News (12/18) Learn More

  • Medical groups urge Congress to consider physician-owned hospitals

    Over 40 medical societies, including the American College of Cardiology, are calling on Congress to consider physician-owned hospitals as a solution to the ongoing health care affordability crisis. They say that these hospitals consistently deliver high-quality, cost-effective care and argue that lifting long-standing restrictions on physician ownership could help reduce overall spending. Radiology Business (12/16) Learn More

  • ACC calls for flexibility in EHR security proposals

    The American College of Cardiology is among dozens of health care organizations saying that proposed changes to US cybersecurity policy for electronic health records would increase costs, would require intensive redesign of infrastructure and would benefit from increased flexibility. "Standards should set strong protections while allowing innovation so providers can respond effectively to evolving cybersecurity risks," the group said. Cardiovascular Business (12/11) Learn More

  • AI's growing role in peer review raises ethical concerns

    A survey of approximately 1,600 academics from 111 countries conducted by Frontiers reveals that over half of researchers now utilize AI tools in peer review. While some publishers, including Frontiers, allow limited AI use with disclosure, the growing trend has prompted calls for clearer policies. Researchers like Mim Rahimi have tested AI's capabilities, finding it can mimic review structures but often lacks depth and accuracy. "It's good to confront the reality that people are using AI in peer-review tasks," says Elena Vicario, Frontiers' director of research integrity. Nature (12/15) Learn More

  • AI model enhances diagnosis of hidden heart condition

    Researchers at the University of Michigan and Invia Medical Imaging Solutions have developed an AI model that can diagnose coronary microvascular dysfunction using a simple ECG. This condition, affecting small heart vessels, is often missed in emergency visits. The AI model, trained on 800,000 ECGs and fine-tuned with imaging data, accurately detects the condition 70% to 80% of the time, offering a non-invasive, cost-effective alternative to traditional invasive tests. The study was published in NEJM AI. Inside Precision Medicine (12/16) Learn More

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