cardiovascular (heart) disease

September 9, 2024

High-sensitivity test expected to expedite heart attack diagnosis and treatment

At Vanderbilt University Hospital, there are approximately 75,000 adult emergency department visits a year, and approximately 20% of all ED patients receive a cardiac troponin test as part of their initial evaluation. The new cardiac troponin test is more precise and provides results faster.

By Jill Clendening
August 20, 2024

VUMC participating in clinical trial of novel heart failure treatment  

Patients with a form of heart failure called HFpEF may breathe normally at rest but quickly become breathless with physical activity. The study will test an atrial shunt to relieve high pressure in the heart.

By Craig Boerner
(photo by Erin O. Smith)
August 14, 2024

Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital nationally recognized for its commitment to providing high-quality stroke care

The Stroke Silver award recognizes hospitals that provide proven dedication to ensuring all stroke patients have access to best practices and lifesaving care.

August 13, 2024

$3.4 million research grant targets risk of heart attack, stroke

Making innovative use of observational data, researchers hope to gain new understanding of patient risk and identify existing drugs to lower risk.

By Paul Govern
Atrial Fibrillation Precision Research Program clinic team members arrange genetic testing for patients with AFib. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
August 7, 2024

Program arranges genetic testing for AFib patients who may be at risk for inherited cardiomyopathy or arrhythmia syndromes

Without treatment, younger patients may develop other serious cardiac disorders such as heart failure or life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias.

By Matt Batcheldor
Graduate student Taralynn Mack, left, pipettes a sample while Alexander Bick, MD, graduate student Hannah Poisner, and Celestine Wanjalla, MD, PhD, look on.
June 4, 2024

Research raises hope for treating potentially lethal blood condition

Roughly 1 in 10 people over age 70 will develop CHIP, an explosive, clonal growth of abnormal blood cells that increases risk of blood cancers and death from cardiovascular, lung and liver disease.

By Bill Snyder
May 31, 2024

VUMC-led team reports potential new way to stimulate weight loss

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System have demonstrated in a small clinical study that “turning up the heat” on fat may help people lose weight and reduce their risk of obesity-related cardiovascular and metabolic disease.
By Bill Snyder
April 30, 2024

Atherosclerosis is a tumor-like disease: study

An anticancer drug blunted atherosclerosis progression — and even made plaques shrink — in a mouse model of the disease, opening new opportunities for preventing and treating this leading cause of death.
By Leigh MacMillan
April 25, 2024

Advance in the treatment of acute heart failure identified

A multicenter study led by Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy in Nashville has identified a potential new treatment for acute heart failure, a leading cause of hospitalization and death.
By Bill Snyder
April 17, 2024

Common AFib drug linked to higher bleeding risk 

In a national retrospective study led by researchers at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, diltiazem, when given in combination with the anticoagulant drugs apixaban (Eliquis) or rivaroxaban (Xarelto), significantly increased the risk of serious bleeding compared to metoprolol.
By Bill Snyder
April 9, 2024

Lifting up voices to celebrate healthy Black births 

Celebration of Black Motherhood on April 20 elevates positive stories and experiences around Black births
By Danny Bonvissuto
April 9, 2024

Heart disease, depression linked by inflammation: study

Coronary artery disease and major depression may be genetically linked via inflammatory pathways to an increased risk for cardiomyopathy, a degenerative heart muscle disease, researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital have found.
By Bill Snyder
April 3, 2024

Excess salt linked to heart disease deaths in low-income group: study

Excessive consumption of dietary sodium likely was responsible for up to 30% of cardiovascular disease-related deaths among mostly low-income participants in a large cohort study conducted by Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
By Bill Snyder
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