A subanalysis of the CANTOS study showed that modulation of the IL-6 signaling pathway with IL-1β inhibitor canakinumab, associates with reduced CV event rates, independent of lipid lowering.

In a subanalysis of the ALSPAC study, higher alcohol consumption and smoking were associated with increased arterial stiffness in teenagers. The good news is that the harmful effects of smoking seem reversible.

A large cohort study demonstrated that higher drinking intensity and smoking exposure are individually and additively associated with increased arterial stiffness in adolescence.

The testosterone/estradiol ratio reflects both systemic and plaque inflammation in men undergoing carotid endarterectomy. Low ratio was associated with higher MACE risk, especially in overweight men.

Elevated Lp(a) is now officially considered a genetically determined risk factor for CVD in the USA. Chapman summarizes how Lp(a) is atherogenic and how novel therapies may target this process.

Clinical updates in management of cardiovascular risk Using data from large randomized clinical trials and from various cohorts, risk and treatment effects in individual patients can be predicted. Now even lifetime risk and lifetime treatment benefit can be predicted in terms of vascular disease-free life years gained.

DPP-4 inhibition with sitagliptin for 24 months decreased the intima-media thickness of the internal carotid artery in type 2 diabetic patients without established CVD.

Clinical updates in management of cardiovascular risk For lowering LDL-c, statins play a major role in both primary and secondary CV prevention in all patients. There is room for improvement with respect to choosing the right dosing regimen.

Clinical updates in management of cardiovascular risk CV risk factors that drive arterial disease in early life have a major impact on future CV risk. Communication about early lifestyle intervention to the public should be a major focus to reduce CV risk in later years.

Healthy food intake was associated with having no coronary artery calcium, and in combination with higher cardiorespiratory fitness, it was also associated with lower CAC levels.

Patients with hypertension with low platelet counts and high total homocysteine levels, which may promote platelet adherence, had the highest risk of first stroke, and this risk was reduced with folic acid treatment.

In a large community-based database, in patients with peripheral artery disease, statin therapy was associated with a significant reduction of amputations and mortality compared with no statin use.