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The management of valvular heart disease has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past two decades, which was driven by the advent of catheter-based treatment methods. Whereas medical therapy was the only available treatment option for many older patients deemed unsuitable for conventional surgery until the early 2000s, a wide range of interventional therapies is now available. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement and mitral valve transcatheter edge-to-edge repair evidently provide prognostic advantages over medical therapy for inoperable patients with severe aortic stenosis and secondary mitral regurgitation, and they have been demonstrated to be non-inferior to conventional surgery in certain operable patient groups. Although catheter-based therapies of aortic and tricuspid regurgitation have not yet been proven to provide prognostic benefits, these approaches enable substantial and sustainable improvements in symptoms as well as quality of life while demonstrating a favorable safety profile. Given the multitude of available options for the treatment of valvular heart diseases, determining the appropriate indication and selecting the optimal therapeutic approach often pose significant challenges. This review article highlights the latest advancements in valvular heart disease management and explores the patient-centered application of available therapies within the framework of an approach toward precision medicine.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) develops multifactorially through an interplay of lifestyle, environmental and genetic factors. Smoking, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity and diabetes mellitus are modifiable risk factors for CAD. In addition, both rare mutations and multiple frequently occurring genetic variants can cause CAD, whereby the heritability of CAD is ca. 50%. Genetic diagnostics enable the early identification of affected children and adults and, based on a greatly increased cardiovascular risk, initiation of preventive treatment. In recent years, genome-wide association studies have identified hundreds of significant variants that together greatly increase the risk of CAD. In the general population the many frequently occurring risk alleles in combination with modifiable risk factors result in a widespread genetic predisposition to CAD. Their relevance arises in the context of an integrative risk assessment, whereby the additional genetic risk can be calculated by polygenic risk scores (PRS), which provide a hazard ratio that can be multiplied with the clinically determined risk. This overview article discusses the diagnostic principles of rare and frequent genetic causes of CAD as well as their implications in the precision treatment of the disease.

Background: This study aims to compare the midterm outcome of percutaneous edge-to-edge repair (TEER) using the first-generation MitraClip system (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, CA) with surgical repair, in patients with severe functional mitral regurgitation (fMR) and reduced left ventricular function (LVEF).

Methods: The data of consecutive patients with severe fMR and LVEF ≤ 45%, who underwent either isolated surgical repair or MitraClip implantation between January 2007 and December 2015, were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical and echocardiographic follow-up data after 12 and 24 months were obtained in both groups. A propensity score matching analysis was performed to adjust for intergroup differences in baseline characteristics.

Results: A total of 167 patients with significant fMR and LVEF ≤ 45% were identified, who underwent either isolated surgical mitral valve repair (n = 83, 49.7%) or MitraClip (n = 84, 50.3%) implantation. Because the two groups had very different risk profiles, propensity scores were calculated for age, sex, EuroSCORE, LVEF, and coronary artery disease, which reduced the number of patients to 74 (38 in the clip group and 36 in the surgical group). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of survival, number of reinterventions, heart failure symptoms according to New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, degree of mitral regurgitation, and LVEF.

Conclusion: In this retrospective analysis of patients with severe fMR and LVEF ≤ 45%, the comparison between surgical repair, edge-to-edge repair and a first-generation MitraClip device showed similar midterm outcomes in terms of survival, number of reinterventions, NYHA class, degree of mitral regurgitation, and LVEF.

Background: Information regarding the association between cardiovascular health (CVH) as assessed using Life's Essential 8 (LE8) approach and all-cause mortality in adults with early-onset cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is limited.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to assess the association between CVH constructed by the LE8 metrics and all-cause mortality in Chinese individuals with early-onset CVDs, including myocardial infarction, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, ischemic stroke, and hemorrhagic stroke as well as in those who had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery or coronary intervention.

Methods: Data of 3454 participants who were first diagnosed with early-onset CVDs (men aged < 55 years and women aged < 65 years with CVDs) in the Kailuan study from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2020 were analyzed. Assessment of CVH (score ranging from 0 to 100 points) was made using the LE8 metrics (including diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, sleep duration, body mass index [BMI], lipid, blood glucose, and blood pressure). All-cause mortality information was collected from provincial vital statistics offices. Cox proportional hazard regression models and restricted cubic splines were utilized to examine associations between the CVH scores and all-cause mortality in adults with early-onset CVDs.

Results: During a mean follow-up of 6.78 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 3.36-10.5 years), 460 deaths were documented. After controlling for demographic variables, lifestyles, and major clinical factors, higher CVH scores were associated with lower risks of all-cause mortality among participants with early-onset CVDs. The corresponding hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were 0.64 (0.49, 0.82) comparing two extreme quartiles of CVH scores and 0.85 (0.77, 0.82) for each 10-point increment in CVH score (p _trend = 0.001). Specifically, significant inverse associations were observed among participants with hemorrhagic stroke (HR _{Q4 vs. Q1} = 0.46, 0.23-0.93) and heart disease (HR _{Q4 vs. Q1} = 0.59, 0.41-0.87).

Conclusion: Our findings supported the beneficial role of higher CVH scores in all-cause mortality among adults with early-onset CVD.

The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines on peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and diseases of the aorta published in September 2024 for the first time combine recommendations for both diseases in a joint guideline document. The consolidation of PAD and aorta guidelines follows a holistic approach, which underlines the entirety of the arterial vascular system. This aim is underlined by a specifically introduced recommendation to take the entirety of the circulatory system into account in patients with vascular diseases. The focus in the current ESC guideline document is on a multidisciplinary, patient-centered management of PAD and diseases of the aorta, whereby the prevention and follow-up of patients after therapeutic interventions are emphasized. In PAD the document highlights exercise training and the procedure for patients with chronic wounds as well as risk stratification and hereditary diseases of the aorta.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) encompasses a spectrum of diagnoses ranging from unstable angina pectoris to myocardial infarction with and without ST-segment elevation and frequently presents as the first clinical manifestation. It is crucial in this scenario to perform a timely and comprehensive assessment of patients by evaluating the clinical presentation, electrocardiogram and laboratory diagnostics using highly sensitivity cardiac troponin in order to initiate a timely and risk-adapted continuing treatment with immediate or early invasive coronary angiography. In addition to revascularization, the subsequent antithrombotic and lipid-lowering treatment plays a major role in the further secondary prevention of CAD. The choice and duration of medication over time should be tailored to the individual risk profile of the patient. Furthermore, appropriate patient education regarding risk factor management is of paramount importance.

The 2024 guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) on atrial fibrillation (AF) present current and comprehensive recommendations for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of AF. They are based on the AF-CARE treatment pathway, which includes modification of cardiovascular risk factors, stroke prevention, symptom management and continuous re-evaluation. Accordingly, all patients with newly diagnosed AF should undergo transthoracic echocardiography. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are recommended for the treatment of heart failure across all clinical and echocardiographic levels of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The CHA2DS2-VASc score has been simplified to the CHA2DS2-VA score for the risk assessment of thromboembolism. For rate or rhythm control pharmacotherapy with beta-blockers, digitalis, amiodarone and flecainide are still the most important drugs. Pulmonary vein isolation is now also recommended as a first-line treatment for paroxysmal AF. Re-evaluation of risk factors and treatment of comorbidities is also emphasized. Overall the guidelines represent a further development and update based on recent studies. They remain practical and provide clear and detailed recommendations for action that are globally recognized in the clinical practice.

Background: Atrial flutter (AFL) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are the most commonly detected supraventricular arrhythmias and share similar pathophysiological mechanisms. After the successful ablation of AFL, AF frequently occurs in the long-term follow-up. As emphasized in some studies, certain mechanisms seem to predispose to the development of AF in AFL patients, and approximately 20% of these patients have accompanying AFL.

Purpose: We aimed to analyze independent risk factors that predict the development of AF in patients who underwent typical AFL ablation.

Methods: This was a multicenter, cross-sectional, and retrospective study. A total of 442 patients who underwent typical AFL ablation at three different centers between January 1, 2018 and January 1, 2022 were included retrospectively. After the ablation procedure the patients were divided into those who developed AF and those who did not. The patients were followed up for an average of 12 (4-20) months. In the post-procedural period, atrial arrhythmias were investigated with 24‑h Holter and ECG at 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months and then at 6‑month intervals thereafter.

Results: Overall, AF developed in 206 (46.6%) patients in the long-term follow-up. Age, hypertension (HT), obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), previous cerebrovascular accident (CVA), left atrium anteroposterior diameter, severe mitral regurgitation, hemoglobin, blood glucose, and HbA1c values were found to be significant in univariable analysis. According to multivariable analysis, HT (p = 0.014; HR: 1.483 [1.084-2.030]), OSAS (p = 0.008; HR: 1.520 [1.117-2.068]) and previous CVA (p = 0.038; HR: 1.749 [1.031-2.968]) were independently associated with the development of AF in AFL patients who underwent ablation procedure.

Conclusion: In the present study, we found that HT, OSAS, and previous CVA were independently correlated with the development of AF in the long-term follow-up of patients who underwent typical AFL ablation. We consider that AFL patients with such risk factors should be followed up closely following cavotricuspid isthmus ablation for the development of AF.

The 2024 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines on chronic coronary syndrome comprehensively summarize the symptoms, diagnostics and treatment of coronary artery disease, excluding acute coronary syndromes. The processing always begins with an estimation of the clinical probability, which should include not only the symptom profile but also the number of cardiovascular risk factors and is further modified by any conspicuous findings in electrocardiography (ECG), exercise testing, or echocardiography. For further diagnostics, coronary angiography via computed tomography is the first-line approach if the probability lies between 5% and 50%. For probabilities of 50-85% procedures for imaging-based ischemia detection are indicated, while for even higher probabilities immediate invasive diagnostics are given priority. The treatment includes intensive risk modification, medicinal anti-anginal treatment and finally revascularization by coronary intervention or bypass surgery. In the absence of high-risk constellations a medication-based approach should be initially preferred, with revascularization indicated if symptoms persist. The new guidelines also extensively address angina and ischemia without obstructive coronary lesions. In this context, intensive risk modification and initial medication treatment are again recommended.