How Can We Reduce Cardiovascular Risk in Women and Improve Risk Stratification?

Purpose Of Review: To explore sex-specific dimensions of cardiovascular disease (CVD) by addressing key questions: (1) What is the true burden of CVD in women, and how does it compare with that in men across diverse populations? (2) Do risk factors for CVD differ between sexes in prevalence, biological impact, and prognostic significance? (3) Should we adopt sex-specific cardiovascular risk stratification tools to improve diagnostic precision in women? (4) Is there a need for earlier or more aggressive preventive strategies in women, particularly for those with sex-specific or predominant risk factors?

Recent Findings: CVD remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among women worldwide. Despite advances in care, significant sex-based disparities persist in awareness, diagnosis, risk stratification, and treatment. Women often present with distinct biological and psychosocial risk factors that are underrecognized in standard assessments.

Methotrexate improves left ventricle systolic and diastolic function in induced Takotsubo myocardiopathy rats.

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is a stress-induced cardiomyopathy which is associated with important morbidity and in-hospital mortality. Microvascular dysfunction, inflammation and fibrosis may play crucial roles in TTS pathophysiology. Here we investigated the effect of methotrexate (MTX), an antiproliferative and immunosuppressive drug, on ventricular function in a rat model of Takotsubo syndrome.

TIMI Risk Score for Secondary Prevention to Risk Stratify Chronic Coronary Syndrome Patients: External Validation Study.

Background: Risk stratification in chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) patients is challenging. TIMI Risk Score for Secondary Prevention (TRS2P) is a simple nine-point tool developed to predict cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction (MI), and ischemic stroke among post-MI patients. No studies have been conducted on it in the Brazilian population.

Empagliflozin in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Undergoing On-Pump CABG: The POST-CABGDM Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of empagliflozin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) undergoing elective on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Research Design And Methods: Investigator-initiated, pragmatic, single-center, randomized, open-label trial with blinded outcome adjudication conducted in Brazil. A total of 145 patients with T2DM scheduled for elective on-pump CABG were randomized to receive empagliflozin 25 mg daily plus standard care (n = 71) for at least 3 months, which was discontinued 72 h before surgery, or to received standard care alone (n = 74).

Impact of Selective Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor (PPAR)-α Modulators and Fibrates on Microvascular Disease: Is There Still Room?

Purpose Of Review: This review examines the role of fibrates and the selective PPAR-alpha modulators (SPPARM-α), pemafibrate, in diabetic microvascular disease. It reviews their potential to mitigate residual risk in retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease.

Recent Findings: These pharmacotherapies, beyond their lipid-lowering effects, may exert anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and endothelial-protective actions.

Safety and possible anti-inflammatory effect of paclitaxel associated with LDL-like nanoparticles (LDE) in patients with chronic coronary artery disease: a double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study.

Introduction: Studies in cholesterol-fed rabbits showed that anti-proliferative chemotherapeutic agents such as paclitaxel associated with solid lipid nanoparticles (LDE) have marked anti-atherosclerotic effects. In addition, association with LDE nearly abolishes paclitaxel toxicity. We investigated whether treatment with LDE-paclitaxel changes plaque progression by coronary CT angiography and is safe in patients with chronic coronary artery disease.

Two-Year Follow-Up of Chronic Ischemic Heart Disease Patients in a Specialized Center in Brazil.

The incidence of cardiovascular events in patients with chronic ischemic heart disease (CIHD) may vary significantly among countries. Although populous, Brazil is often underrepresented in international records. This study aimed to describe the quality of care and the two-year incidence of cardiovascular events and associated prognostic factors in CIHD patients in a tertiary public health care center in Brazil.

Insights into the Role of Inflammation in the Management of Atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is the biological basis of ischemic heart disease and ischemic stroke, the leading causes of death in the world. After decades of studies, the understanding of atherosclerosis has evolved dramatically, and inflammation has been recognized as one of the most relevant pillars in all phases of atherosclerotic disease. Nevertheless, only recently, the trial CANTOS, and subsequent outcome studies with colchicine, finally provided proof-of-concept evidence that anti-inflammatory therapies were able to reduce cardiovascular events with no influence on lipid levels.

Evaluation of cardiovascular risk biomarkers after moderate consumption of red wine and cachaça in a randomized crossover trial: The Wine and Cachaça Study (WICAS).

Introduction: Moderate daily consumption of alcohol (MDCA) is associated with cardiovascular risk (CVR) reduction in observational studies. Some researches have suggested that this benefit may be associated not only with red wine consumption but also with other beverages. However, there are no clinical trials evaluating the possible CVR benefit of Brazilian spirit (cachaça) in humans.