What cardiology is researching now

A newer CT detector technology, studied for cardiac and coronary imaging.

Pacing the heart's own conduction system, such as the left bundle branch area.

Key point: Conduction system pacing may offer potential advantages over biventricular pacing in patients indicated for CRT; confirmation in larger randomized clinical trials is required.

Studies of GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide in patients with heart failure.

Heart care for people with cancer, including cardiotoxicity from cancer treatment.

Age-related acquired mutations in blood-forming stem cells (CHIP) and their link to cardiovascular disease.

A genetically determined lipoprotein linked to atherosclerotic disease, and the drugs being developed to lower it.

Small pacemakers implanted inside the heart, with no leads.

Smartwatches and wearable devices used to detect atrial fibrillation.

Catheter-based repair or replacement of the tricuspid valve, without open surgery.

Fractional flow reserve estimated from coronary CT angiography.

Heart disease caused by transthyretin amyloid deposits, and its diagnosis and treatment.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Artificial intelligence applied to electrocardiograms to detect or predict disease.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis.

Use of SGLT2 inhibitors such as dapagliflozin and empagliflozin across heart failure types.

Drugs such as mavacamten and aficamten for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Cardiac rehabilitation delivered at home or through digital tools.

Key point: Exercise-based telerehabilitation probably improves cardiorespiratory fitness in adults with CVD but provides no convincing evidence of an antihypertensive effect.

An siRNA drug that lowers LDL cholesterol by reducing PCSK9 production in the liver.

Key point: Inclisiran achieves similar LDL-C reductions with biannual dosing, potentially improving adherence, though cardiovascular outcome data are pending.

A newer class of anticoagulants that target factor XI or XIa.

Key point: Adding an FXIa inhibitor to standard antiplatelet therapy after acute noncardioembolic ischemic stroke or TIA reduces stroke recurrence without evidence of increased bleeding risk.

Colchicine as an anti-inflammatory therapy in coronary and cardiovascular disease.

Key point: Low-dose colchicine has demonstrated modest reductions in cardiovascular events, although results across trials have been inconsistent.

A catheter procedure targeting renal nerves to lower blood pressure.

Shockwaves delivered through a balloon catheter to crack calcium in arteries.

New blood pressure drugs, including aldosterone synthase inhibitors and zilebesiran.

Key point: Aldosterone-targeted therapies, including aldosterone-synthase inhibitors and spironolactone, provide clinically meaningful systolic blood pressure reductions in resistant hypertension without increasing serious adverse events.

Drugs that block cholesteryl ester transfer protein, studied for lowering LDL cholesterol.

Studies of vutrisiran, an RNA interference therapy for transthyretin amyloidosis.