Large Language Models for CAD-RADS 2.0 Extraction From Semi-Structured Coronary CT Angiography Reports: A Multi-Institutional Study.

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of large language models (LLMs) in extracting Coronary Artery Disease-Reporting and Data System (CAD-RADS) 2.0 components from coronary CT angiography (CCTA) reports, and assess the impact of prompting strategies.

Materials And Methods: In this multi-institutional study, we collected 319 synthetic, semi-structured CCTA reports from six institutions to protect patient privacy while maintaining clinical relevance.

Arterial Stiffness and Histologically Confirmed Helicobacter pylori Infection in Young Adults.

Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection has been linked to systemic inflammation and vascular dysfunction, potentially contributing to arterial stiffness. Research in younger populations is limited, highlighting the need to explore its early cardiovascular impact. This study investigated the association between histologically confirmed HP infection and arterial stiffness.

Real-World Effectiveness of Rosuvastatin-Ezetimibe Single Pill (Rovazet) in Korean Dyslipidemia Patients.

Fixed-dose combinations of rosuvastatin and ezetimibe are increasingly used in clinical practice, but real-world data on their effectiveness and safety in large populations remain limited. This prospective, single-group, open-label, non-interventional observational study was conducted in the Republic of Korea to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Rovazet (a fixed-dose combination of rosuvastatin and ezetimibe). Patients were prospectively enrolled from 235 institutions (50 general hospitals and 185 private clinics) as part of routine clinical practice over a five-year period.

Prognostic Implications of Left-Ventricular Function Changes in Young Acute Heart Failure Patients.

Background And Objectives: Heart failure (HF) in younger patients, who are typically active, can significantly affect their quality of life. We assessed the clinical features and prognosis of younger patients with acute HF according to changes in their left ventricular function.

Methods: This multi-center cohort study was conducted from March 2011 to February 2014 across 10 representative university hospitals.

Effectiveness of single-pill combination olmesartan/amlodipine/hydrochlorothiazide therapy in patients with apparent resistant hypertension.

This pioneering study investigated the real-life effectiveness of single-pill combination (SPC) antihypertensive therapy in patients with uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) and cardiovascular risk factors. After treatment with olmesartan medoxomil/amlodipine besylate/hydrochlorothiazide for 24 weeks, adults with apparent resistant hypertension had significantly reduced systolic BP and approximately 80% achieved target BP. SPC therapy may improve adherence in patients with pseudo-resistant hypertension and is a potentially effective treatment for resistant hypertension.

Incremental prognostic value of combined information of arterial stiffness and the result of treadmill exercise test in patients with suspected coronary artery disease.

The effectiveness of diagnostic tools can be enhanced by their combination. This study aimed to investigate whether total arterial stiffness data, obtained by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) measurement, could improve prognostic value to exercise treadmill test (ETT) to predict future cardiovascular events. A total of 1 610 consecutive subjects (mean age 56.

Correction: The role of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in enhancing medication adherence among patients with newly diagnosed hypertension: an analysis of the National Health Insurance cohort database.

[This corrects the article 6 in vol. 30, PMID: 38424656.].

Clinical Factors Associated With Three-Year Cardiovascular Outcomes in Women Who Underwent Invasive Coronary Angiography: Data From the KoRean wOmen'S chest pain rEgistry (KoROSE).

Background And Objectives: This study aimed to assess clinical factors that predict long-term clinical outcomes in women who underwent invasive coronary angiography (ICA).

Methods: A total of 741 Korean women (mean age 63.9±9.

2024 KSoLA Update on New Lipid-Lowering Agents: Inclisiran and Bempedoic Acid.

Inclisiran and bempedoic acid (BA) are non-statin lipid-lowering agents that have been approved for use in the US and Europe. Inclisiran, a subcutaneously administered small interfering RNA targeting proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 messenger RNA, is effectively delivered to the liver via lipid nanoparticles and conjugation. In several phase 3 trials, it has successfully reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) by 50% and has an acceptable safety profile.

Addressing Cardiovascular Diseases Challenges in South Korea: Strategies to Improve Outcomes.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) pose a significant public health challenge in South Korea. This paper attempts to assess the current status of major cardiovascular risk factors and representative CVDs, and proposes policies and strategies to improve CVDs outcomes. It addresses key issues related to hypertension, dyslipidemia, ischemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, sudden cardiac death, heart failure and valvular heart disease.

Serum fibulin-1 levels and target organ damage in patients at high cardiovascular risk: A prospective observational study.

Background: Fibulin-1, an extracellular matrix protein, is a potential biomarker for cardiovascular disease, but its association with target organ damage (TOD) in high-risk patients remains unclear.

Methods: We prospectively analysed 330 patients undergoing invasive coronary angiography (ICA) (mean age, 64.7 ± 10.

The Associations of Arterial Stiffness and Central Hemodynamics with Carotid Atherosclerosis in Patients at a High Coronary Risk: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: It is not well-known which indicator, central blood pressure (CBP) or arterial stiffness, has a greater impact on carotid atherosclerosis. This study aimed to assess the associations of carotid atherosclerosis with arterial stiffness and CBP in the same individuals.

Methods: A total of 142 patients (mean age: 69 years; 43% female) with documented atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or multiple risk factors were analyzed.

Smartphone App for Improving Self-Awareness of Adherence to Edoxaban Treatment in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation (ADHERE-App Trial): Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Adherence to oral anticoagulant therapy is essential to prevent ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate whether smartphone app-based interventions improve medication adherence in patients with AF.

Methods: This open-label, multicenter randomized controlled trial (ADHERE-App [Self-Awareness of Drug Adherence to Edoxaban Using an Automatic App Feedback System] study) enrolled patients with AF treated with edoxaban for stroke prevention.

Impact of three-month treatment with pitavastatin on arterial stiffness in patients with hypercholesterolemia: a prospective observational study.

Objective: Although several studies have highlighted the benefits of statins in improving arterial stiffness, there is limited research on whether pitavastatin, a more recently developed statin, has similar effects. This study aimed to investigate the impact of pitavastatin on arterial stiffness in patients with hypercholesterolemia.

Methods: This prospective study enrolled 115 patients with hypercholesterolemia (mean age, 59 years; 22% female) who had not previously been treated with statins.

The Value of Serial Measurement of Arterial Stiffness in Cardiovascular Disease.

Clinically assessing arterial stiffness is valuable because it aids in predicting future cardiovascular events. There are several methods for measuring arterial stiffness, including pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index, and pulse pressure. Numerous studies have shown that these indicators of arterial stiffness possess prognostic value for various patient groups as well as the general population.

Arterial Stiffness and Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is prevalent and associated with a poor prognosis, imposing a significant burden on society. Arterial stiffness is increasingly recognized as a crucial factor in the pathophysiology of HFpEF, affecting diagnosis, management, and prognosis. As a hallmark of vascular aging, arterial stiffness contributes to increased afterload on the left ventricle (LV), leading to diastolic dysfunction, a key feature of HFpEF.

Differences in Risk Factors for Coronary Atherosclerosis According to Sex.

Interest in sex differences related to coronary artery disease (CAD) has steadily increased, and the risk factors for CAD show distinct sex differences. For women, cardiovascular risk increases significantly after menopause due to a decrease in estrogen levels. In older individuals, increased arterial stiffness results in a higher pulse pressure, leading to a more common occurrence of isolated systolic hypertension; these changes are more noticeable in women.

Intravascular imaging-guided percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock.

Introduction And Objectives: There are no clinical data on the efficacy of intravascular imaging-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) compared with angiography-guided PCI in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and cardiogenic shock. The current study sought to evaluate the impact of intravascular imaging-guided PCI in patients with AMI and cardiogenic shock.

Methods: Among a total of 28 732 patients from the nationwide pooled registry of KAMIR-NIH (November, 2011 to December, 2015) and KAMIR-V (January, 2016 to June, 2020), we selected a total of 1833 patients (6.

Sex differences in coronary atherogenesis: a narrative review.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains the leading cause of mortality worldwide, driven primarily by atherogenesis. Recent efforts to understand sex differences in CAD have revealed distinct patterns in disease burden, risk factors, and clinical presentations. This review examines these sex differences in CAD, underscoring the importance of customized diagnostic and management strategies.

Association Between Orthostatic Hypertension and Frailty Among Older Patients With Hypertension.

Background: Frailty frequently coexists with hypertension in older patients. We aimed to evaluate the association between frailty and positional change in blood pressure, especially orthostatic hypertension.

Methods: Participants were recruited from 12 University hospitals in South Korea.

Characteristics According to Frailty Status Among Older Korean Patients With Hypertension.

Background: As the prevalence of hypertension increases with age and the proportion of the older population is also on the rise, research on the characteristics of older hypertensive patients and the importance of frailty is necessary. This study aimed to identify clinical characteristics of older hypertension in Korea and to investigate these characteristics based on frailty status.

Methods: The HOW to Optimize eLDerly systolic BP (HOWOLD-BP) is a prospective, multicenter, open-label, randomized clinical trial that aims to compare intensive (target systolic blood pressure [SBP] ≤ 130 mmHg) with standard (target SBP ≤ 140 mmHg) treatment to reduce cardiovascular events in older hypertensive Korean patients aged ≥ 65 years.

Early menopause is associated with abnormal diastolic function and poor clinical outcomes in women with suspected angina.

Early identification of women at high risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), with subsequent monitoring, will allow for improved clinical outcomes and generally better quality of life. This study aimed to identify the associations between early menopause, abnormal diastolic function, and clinical outcomes. This retrospective study included 795 menopausal women from is a nationwide, multicenter, registry of patients with suspected angina visiting outpatient clinic.