Cardio Round-Up: COVID Infection Linked to Myocarditis; and More

Is Circulating Serum Magnesium Associated with a Risk of VTE in White Men?

A study assessed the association between serum magnesium, trace element involved in processes that regulate cardiovascular function, and venous thromboembolism (VTE) has not been previously investigated. We aimed to assess the prospective association of serum magnesium with the risk of VTE. “In a middle-aged Caucasian male population, serum-circulating magnesium was not associated with a future risk of VTE,” the researchers concluded. “Further studies in women, other age groups, and other populations are required to generalize these findings.”

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Can Cholesterol Efflux Capacity Predict All-Cause Mortality in Patients with PAD?

Cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) does not predict mortality in peripheral artery disease (PAD), according to a study published in the journal Diagnostics. “Cholesterol efflux is an important mechanism by which high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) protect against cardiovascular disease. As peripheral artery disease (PAD) is associated with high mortality rates, mainly due to cardiovascular causes, we investigated whether CEC of apolipoprotein B (apoB)-depleted plasma, a widely used surrogate of HDL function, may serve as a predictive marker for mortality in this patient population,” the researchers wrote.

COVID-19 Infection Linked to Increased Risk for Myocarditis

The risk for myocarditis is increased in association with COVID-19, with risk varying by age group, according to research published in the early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. “Myocarditis is uncommon among patients with and without COVID-19; however, COVID-19 is a strong and significant risk factor for myocarditis, with risk varying by age group,” the authors write. “The findings in this report underscore the importance of implementing evidence-based COVID-19 prevention strategies, including vaccination, to reduce the public health impact of COVID-19 and its associated complications.”

Individual AFib Episodes Tied to Recent Alcohol Intake

Individual atrial fibrillation (AFib) episodes are associated with increased odds of recent alcohol consumption, according to a study published online in the Annals of Internal Medicine. “Alcohol consumption, documented objectively and in real time, substantially increased the risk for an AFib episode within a few hours,” the authors write. “These data show that the occurrence of AFib may be neither random nor completely unpredictable, but rather that identifiable, common, and even imminently modifiable exposures are associated with discrete AFib events.”