Tens of thousands of people across North Carolina are at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease that had not been identified previously, according to a new study published in Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association. The study team, composed of researchers at the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine and the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, created a statewide network of healthcare professionals in urban, suburban, and rural areas who work in small primary care practices and used existing electronic health records to identify at-risk individuals. Primary care doctors across the state then used this analysis to proactively engage patients to reduce their risk.

A new set of appropriate use criteria (AUC) released Dec. 17 by a group of cardiovascular professional societies provide guidelines for peripheral artery interventions. The purpose of the AUC is to provide guidance to clinicians who may refer patients for revascularization treatments and to interventionalists and surgeons themselves. With the field of peripheral artery disease constantly evolving, it is imperative to offer tools and resources that physicians can utilize to provide the best care for their patients.

Irish medical device company AuriGen Medical won the prestigious Global Innovation Award at the International Conference for Innovations in Cardiovascular Systems (ICI), Dec. 2-4 in Tel Aviv, Israel. AuriGen Medical, which specializes in the treatment of atrial fibrillation, is developing the first heart implant to treat both the stroke and heart failure risk associated with this often fatal condition.The Global Innovation award attracted entries from the best medical device and pharmaceutical start-ups from around the world.

A judge of the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Texas ruled the Affordable Care Act (ACA) unconstitutional in a shocking decision that could impact the health insurance coverage of millions of Americans. A group of Democratic state attorneys general plans to bring the case to the 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, and the Trump administration said the law will remain in place until the appeal process is complete.

Shockwave Medical announced a new investment and collaboration agreement with Abiomed Inc. As outlined by the agreement, Abiomed will invest $15 million in Shockwave and the two companies will collaborate on a training and education program in the United States and Germany focused on the benefits of complementary use of their respective technologies.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently entered into an interagency agreement with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to coordinate scientific research efforts on healthcare. Eric D. Hargan, deputy HHS secretary, wrote the following column about the implications of the agreement.