Volume 15 Issue 12, December 2018

A wealth of data that culminated in a large clinical trial established that IL-1β blockade has beneficial effects in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. A new study in gene-targeted mice challenges this view by showing atheroprotective effects of IL-1β.

The benefits of regular exercise extend beyond its effect on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. In this Review, the authors outline the non-traditional mechanisms underlying the benefits of exercise in CVD and highlight the importance of a holistic view of exercise in cardiovascular health.

The incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and the risk of cognitive impairment both increase with age, and the two pathologies share important risk factors. In this Review, Madhavan and colleagues explore the association and mechanisms of cognitive decline and AF, and discuss potential therapies to prevent cognitive impairment in these patients.

The current guidelines recommending the use of higher-intensity statin therapy to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease have raised concerns about potential adverse effects associated with long-term statin therapy. In this Review, Adhyaru and Jacobson discuss the evidence for the efficacy and safety of statins to help clinicians and patients make informed decisions about statin therapy.

In this Review, Yacoub and McLeod summarize the rationale for monitoring patients with heart failure or pulmonary arterial hypertension to detect haemodynamic changes that predict the deterioration from subclinical to overt disease, the transition from noninvasive to implantable devices and the current and anticipated clinical use of these devices.