This Week in Cardiology

A second ESC recap plus two breaking stories on the failure of an investigational Lp(a) reducing drug and a new FDA approval of an AI-ECG app are covered by John Mandrola, MD
This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals only.
To read a partial transcript or to comment, visit:
https://www.medscape.com/twic
I Lp(a) Disappointment
HORIZON https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04023552
Press Release https://www.novartis.com/news/media-releases/novartis-announces-lpahorizon-phase-iii-topline-results-pelacarsen-patients-elevated-lpa-and-established-cardiovascular-disease-cvd
Rationale paper https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2025.03.019
II FDA Clears AI-ECG for Acute MI Detection 
Accuracy of cath lab activation decisions for STEMI-equivalent and mimic ECGs: Physicians vs. AI (Queen of Hearts by PMcardio) 10.1016/j.ajem.2025.07.061
AI-Enabled ECG Analysis Improves Diagnostic Accuracy and Reduces False STEMI Activations: A Multicenter U.S. Registry https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jcin.2025.10.018
Queen of Hearts™ AI ECG App https://www.powerfulmedical.com/pmcardio-stemi/
III TARGET CTCA Trial
Targeted Use of Computed Tomographic Coronary Angiography in Acute Chest Pain https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2608903
IV CorCal trial
Press release https://www.escardio.org/news/press/press-releases/new-data-presented-on-the-use-of-coronary-artery-calcium-for-cardiovascular-risk-assessment/
CorCal Outcomes: A randomized trial using the pooled cohort equation or coronary artery calcium to select statin therapy in primary prevention patients. Study design and baseline characteristics https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2026.107473
V AMUNDSEN Trial
LDL Cholesterol Lowering With Evolocumab Before Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Acute Myocardial InfarctionThe AMUNDSEN Randomized Clinical Trial https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2853274
VI TRIC-I-HF trial
Tricuspid Repair Cuts Death, HF Hospitalization in Severe TR https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/tricuspid-repair-cuts-death-hf-hospitalization-severe-tr-2026a1000wvk
Tricuspid-Valve Intervention in Heart Failure https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2606934
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ESC recaps on the SINGLE-AF trial, CMR Guide trial, two ATTR studies, PVI-SHAM-AF, STAREE, and an observational study of ICD benefit over the past decades are the topics John Mandrola, MD, discusses in this week's podcast.
This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals only.
To read a partial transcript or to comment, visit:
https://www.medscape.com/twic
I SINGLE-AF Trial
To Anticoagulate or Not in Intermediate-Risk AF: The SINGLE-AF Trial https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/anticoagulate-or-not-intermediate-risk-af-single-af-trial-2026a1000uko
SINGLE-AF https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2607978
II Scar as an ICD risk stratifier
Is Scar on CMR an Indication for ICD? CMR Guide Leaves Doubts
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/scar-cmr-indication-icd-cmr-guide-leaves-doubts-2026a1000ukq
CMTR GUIDE Trial https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2853395
MADIT II Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa013474
III Single vs Dual Therapy in ATTR-CM
HELIOS-B Trial Sub-analysis https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0735109726072086
HELIOS-B Sub-analysis Editorial https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0735109726073766#bib8
HELIOS-B main trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2409134
CARDIO-TTRansform Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2608510
IV A Stunning Result of another Sham-controlled AF ablation trial
Does AF Ablation Work? That's in Question After PVI-SHAM-AF https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/does-af-ablation-work-s-question-after-sham-pvi-af-2026a1000uli
PVI-SHAM-AF Trial 10.1016/S0140-6736(26)01558-8 External Link
SHAM-PVI Trial https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2823283
PFA-Sham Trial https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.126.079484
V Should Older Adults Take Statins: The STAREE trial.
STAREE Strengthens Case for Over-the-Counter Statins https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/staree-strengthens-case-over-counter-statins-2026a1000vrw
STAREE Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2607314
VII Declining ICD Benefit After MI  
Mortality Reduction with ICD for Prevention of SCD Post-MI  https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/advance-article/doi/10.1093/eurheartj/ehag706/8768943 
CONTEMP-ICD Trial https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06543446 
PROFID-EHRA Trial https://profid-project.eu/profid-ehra-trial/ 
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Listener feedback on mechanical CPR devices, PFA and stroke, the Lindy effect in adopting new technology, and an ESC preview are the topics John Mandrola, MD, discusses in this week's podcast.
This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals only.
To read a partial transcript or to comment, visit:
https://www.medscape.com/twic
I Listener Feedback on Mechanical Compression Devices for OHCA
 
Mechanical CPR Device Use and Cardiac Arrest Survival
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.126.079272
PARAMEDIC trial https://www.thelancet.com/article/S0140-6736(14)61886-9/fulltext
CIRC trial https://www.resuscitationjournal.com/article/S0300-9572(14)00128-2/fulltext
LINC trial https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/1774037
Cochrane Review – Mechanical vs Manual Chest Compressions for Cardiac Arrest https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6953326/
II PFA and Stroke
Risk of Stroke and TIA With PFA vs RF Ablation https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/epub/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.126.081092
AVANT GUARD Trial https://www.nejm.org/do/10.1056/NEJMdo008538/full/
EMBOL-AF Registry https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/advance-article/doi/10.1093/eurheartj/ehag217/8566008
III A New ICD Lead
LEADR LBBAP Trial https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2026.08.030
IV ESC Preview
Mandrola's Preview of the European Society of Cardiology 2026 https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/mandrolas-preview-european-society-cardiology-2026-2026a1000tfi
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The Bob Harrington Show with the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine, Robert A. Harrington, MD. https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington
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Mechanical CPR devices, the dangers of AF performance measures, two scholarly articles on CLOSURE and CHAMPION, and a little ESC preview are the topics John Mandrola, MD, discusses in this week's podcast. 
This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals only. To read a partial transcript or to comment, visit:
https://www.medscape.com/twic
I Mechanical Compression Devices for OHCA
·       Mechanical CPR Device Use Cardiac Arrest Survival
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.126.079272
·       PARAMEDIC Trial https://www.thelancet.com/article/S0140-6736(14)61886-9/fulltext
·       CIRC Trial https://www.resuscitationjournal.com/article/S0300-9572(14)00128-2/fulltext
·       LINC trial https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/1774037
·       Cochrane Review of Mechanical vs Manual Chest Compressions for Cardiac Arrest  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6953326/
II ACC AF Performance Measures
·       2026 AHA/ACC Clinical Performance for Patients With AF https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2026.05.032#sec-3
III Two Critical Appraisals of the recent LAAC trials
·       Reappraising CHAMPION-AF 10.1016/j.hrthm.2026.07.048 External Link
·       CHAMPION and CLOSURE: Reconciling Contrast Results https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehag608
ESC Early Preview
·       CMR Guide trial https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6931571/
·       SINGLE AF Trial 10.1016/j.hroo.2025.12.008 External Link
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Listener feedback, the ZEUS trial fails, a fascinating statin trial, more on GLP-1 drugs, and radiation safety in the EP lab are the topics John Mandrola, MD, discusses in this week's podcast.
This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals only.
To read a partial transcript or to comment, visit:
https://www.medscape.com/twic
I ZEUS Fails
Rethinking Inflammation and ASCVD: Four Lessons From the ZEUS Trial
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/rethinking-inflammation-and-ascvd-four-lessons-zeus-trial-2026a1000rlm
ZEUS Trial https://doi.org/10.1001/jamacardio.2025.4491
II Statins and the Elderly
SAGA/SITE trial 10.1016/j.lanhl.2026.100884 External Link
III GLP-1 and CV Risk
SURMOUNT-1 Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2206038
SURMOUNT-1 Post Hoc Analysis https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2026.04.044
Reframing GLP-1s as Cardiometabolic Health Drugs: Editorial https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2026.06.039
IV Radiation Exposure to the Uterus in the EP Lab
Occupational Radiation Safety in EP During Pregnancy https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/epub/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.126.080556
Survey: Working in Cath Lab During Pregnancy https://www.surveymonkey.com/share/d5c1edf7-6d99-49d4-a9fa-e9168f63ab55
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The Bob Harrington Show with the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine, Robert A. Harrington, MD. https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington
Questions or feedback, please contact news@medscape.net