Lp(a) and risk of cardiovascular disease - A review of existing evidence and emerging concepts.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death among adults in the United States. There has been significant advancement in the diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and its underlying risk factors. In certain populations, there remains a significant residual risk despite adequate lowering of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and control of traditional risk factors. This has led to an interest in research to identify additional risk factors that contribute to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Elevated lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] has been identified as an independent risk factor contributing to an increased risk for CVD. There are also ethnic and racial disparities in Lp(a) inheritance that need to be understood. This paper reviews the current literature on lipoprotein a, proposed mechanisms of actions for cardiovascular disease, recommendations for testing, and the current and emerging therapies for lowering Lp(a).

Strengthening US Food Policies and Programs to Promote Equity in Nutrition Security: A Policy Statement From the American Heart Association.

Nutritionally inadequate dietary intake is a leading contributor to chronic cardiometabolic diseases. Differences in dietary quality contribute to socioeconomic and racial and ethnic health disparities. Food insecurity, a household-level social or economic condition of limited access to sufficient food, is a common cause of inadequate dietary intake. Although US food assistance policies and programs are designed to improve food security, there is growing consensus that they should have a broader focus on nutrition security. In this policy statement, we define nutrition security as an individual or household condition of having equitable and stable availability, access, affordability, and utilization of foods and beverages that promote well-being and prevent and treat disease. Despite existing policies and programs, significant gaps remain for achieving equity in nutrition security across the life span. We provide recommendations for expanding and improving current food assistance policies and programs to achieve nutrition security. These recommendations are guided by several overarching principles: emphasizing nutritional quality, improving reach, ensuring optimal utilization, improving coordination across programs, ensuring stability of access to programs across the life course, and ensuring equity and dignity for access and utilization. We suggest a critical next step will be to develop and implement national measures of nutrition security that can be added to the current US food security measures. Achieving equity in nutrition security will require coordinated and sustained efforts at the federal, state, and local levels. Future advocacy, innovation, and research will be needed to expand existing food assistance policies and programs and to develop and implement new policies and programs that will improve cardiovascular health and reduce disparities in chronic disease.

Acute on chronic severe aortic insufficiency due to rheumatoid arthritis-associated valvulitis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis associated valvular heart disease (RA-VHD) may occur in patients in varying degrees of severity. Aortic valve involvement leading to severe symptomatic aortic insufficiency is a rare complication of rheumatoid arthritis. This entity has not been well characterized and its clinical predictors are undefined. The pathology of RA-VHD can extend from benign nodular development to acute valvulitis with late-stage leaflet fibrosis and severe valvular regurgitation. In this report, we describe a rare case of acute heart failure (AHF) resulting from severe aortic valve destruction and insufficiency due to persistent chronic inflammation in a patient with long-standing RA. Persistent systemic inflammation of RA involved the aortic valve causing nodular thickening and leaflet destruction. Our patient had compensated chronic heart failure due to progressive aortic insufficiency resulting from gradual leaflet destruction. However, she suddenly developed AHF requiring valve replacement. Her clinical presentation, gross and histological images suggest an acute/subacute disruption of the friable aortic leaflets that resulted in AHF.

Nonprofit Advocacy at the American Heart Association: Creating a Visionary Way Forward at Our 40th Anniversary: An American Heart Association Policy Statement.

In 2021, the American Heart Association celebrates its 40th anniversary in advocacy. This policy statement details the arc of the organization's nonpartisan, evidence-based, equity-focused approach to advocating for public policy change, highlighting key milestones and describing the core components of the association's capacity and activity at all levels of government. This policy statement presents a vision and strategic imperative for future American Heart Association advocacy efforts to inform and influence policy changes that advance equitable, impactful societal solutions that transform and improve cardiovascular health for everyone. The American Heart Association maintains accountability by measuring and evaluating the totality of this work and its impact on equitable health outcomes. The American Heart Association will apply these lessons to constantly refine its own strategic policy focus and advocacy efforts. The association will also serve as a resource and catalyst to other organizations working to engage and educate policy makers, partners, the media, and funders about the important role and contribution of public policy change to achieve shared goals.