Cardiovascular Archives

New research agenda aims to improve care for patients with COPD and heart disease

August 13, 2024

Kaiser Permanente experts contribute to American Thoracic Society research statement that addresses need for clinical trials in real-world settings, patient-centered outcomes, and health disparities.

More testing may not benefit most patients with chest pain but no signs of a heart attack

May 23, 2024

New Kaiser Permanente research suggests less need for referrals for follow-up non-invasive cardiac testing.

Emergency room physicians moving away from lumbar puncture for headache evaluation

April 19, 2024

A new Kaiser Permanente study shows a gradual shift over time has occurred in the way emergency department physicians evaluate and diagnose sudden, severe headaches.

Breast cancer survivors see cardiovascular benefit from heart-healthy diet

April 17, 2024

Women who had a heart-healthy diet at the time of their breast cancer diagnosis had a lower risk of going on to develop heart disease, new Kaiser Permanente research shows.

Patients newly diagnosed with heart failure may have wider range of treatment options

April 7, 2024

Kaiser Permanente research may help doctors best medication for patients newly diagnosed with heart failure with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction.

Genomic risk scores may help identify patients at higher risk for coronary heart disease

April 5, 2024

Kaiser Permanente study finds a polygenic risk score might help physicians identify patients at higher risk of developing coronary heart disease.

Modest amounts of alcohol tied to increased heart disease risk, especially in women

March 29, 2024

Kaiser Permanente study finds women who reported drinking 8 or more alcoholic beverages a week were more likely to develop coronary heart disease than those who drank less.

Prenatal detection rates for congenital heart disease can be achieved with fewer fetal echocardiograms

March 15, 2024

Kaiser Permanente study highlights success of its clinical pathway that refers only patients whose obstetrical screening ultrasound shows a fetal cardiac abnormality for a fetal echocardiogram.

Certain people with HIV may need more help to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease

January 16, 2024

The well-established higher risk of cardiovascular disease in people with HIV compared with people without HIV is more pronounced in key subgroups – people with HIV and controlled hypertension, those with inadequately treated cholesterol, and those with a history of frequent unhealthy alcohol use.

Amount of leisure time exercise tied to risk of cardiovascular disease

January 11, 2024

Counties that have a large number of adults who report not exercising in their free time had higher rates of death from cardiovascular disease, reported researchers from Kaiser Permanente and Massachusetts General Hospital.

5 Questions for . . . Ankeet Bhatt

December 6, 2023

Kaiser Permanente cardiologist and research scientist is now leading pioneering study of heart disease risk factors in Black and white men and women.

Kaiser Permanente researchers and physicians showcase findings at major cardiology meeting

November 20, 2023

Presentations at the Annual American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in Philadelphia underscore the organization’s expertise and commitment to improving patient care.

Teenage girls with reproductive health condition are more likely to have high blood pressure

November 14, 2023

A Kaiser Permanente study presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions focused on girls with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Improving outcomes for patients with aortic stenosis

September 5, 2023

New Kaiser Permanente research suggests fine-tuning assessments of patients with moderate aortic stenosis could help improve outcomes and better determine which patients might benefit from surgery.

Improving outcomes for patients with blood clots

August 18, 2023

Patients with blood clots who are on blood thinners for more than 6 months have a lower risk of developing a new blood clot if they are treated with direct oral anticoagulants rather than with warfarin.

Blood pressure patterns in the first half of pregnancy improve early prediction of preeclampsia and gestational hypertension

July 12, 2023

Routine blood pressure readings recorded in the first half of pregnancy can be divided into 6 distinct patterns that can effectively stratify patients by their risk of developing preeclampsia and gestational hypertension later in pregnancy.

Clinical trials expand options for patients with heart problems

May 18, 2023

Kaiser Permanente study teams enroll members in large, national cardiology clinical trials setting new standards for care.

Better outcomes seen in people with severe aortic stenosis who have scheduled common valve procedure

April 5, 2023

New research from Kaiser Permanente finds patients who need an emergency transcatheter aortic valve replacement have greater risks.

Atrial fibrillation may increase risk for dementia

March 8, 2023

Large Kaiser Permanente study finds a 13% greater risk of being diagnosed with dementia after a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation, with stronger associations seen in younger, healthier people.

Current air pollution standards are insufficient to reduce heart risks

February 24, 2023

Long-term exposure to air pollution is tied to an increased risk of having a heart attack or dying from heart disease — with the greatest harms impacting under-resourced communities, new Kaiser Permanente research shows.

Blood clots in hospitalized patients tied to worse outcomes

November 21, 2022

A Kaiser Permanente study found the incidence of blood clots in hospitalized patients and those recently discharged has slowly been increasing over time.

American Heart Association honors Kaiser Permanente researcher with award for best publication

November 10, 2022

Research scientist Erica Gunderson received the Dr. Nanette K. Wenger Research Goes Red® Award for Best Scientific Publication on Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke in Women.

Largest-ever study of thoracic aortic aneurysm supports treatment guidelines

October 5, 2022

Kaiser Permanente Center for Thoracic Aortic Disease study provides high-quality evidence that most patients diagnosed with a thoracic aortic aneurysm are not likely to experience an aortic dissection.

National quality measurements may not accurately reflect a hospital’s surgical risks

September 13, 2022

A new Kaiser Permanente study finds the National Surgical Quality Improvement Project report falls short on estimates of a patient’s risk of developing heart problems after surgery.

Home-delivered, medically tailored meals may benefit recently hospitalized patients with heart failure

August 25, 2022

A new Kaiser Permanente study finds promise in ‘food as medicine’ delivery for some — but not all — patients with chronic conditions.

Higher street-level traffic-related air pollution linked to increased emergency room costs

August 9, 2022

Kaiser Permanente study conducted with scientists from the Environmental Defense Fund finds higher total health care costs for people with heart disease.

5 Questions for . . . Carlos Iribarren

July 11, 2022

Kaiser Permanente research scientist’s wide-ranging interests have built an expansive epidemiology career.

Not all heart failure patients require hospitalization

June 10, 2022

Kaiser Permanente researchers have developed a risk stratification tool to guide hospital admissions from the emergency department for patients with acute heart failure.

Low stroke risk in patients with very narrowed neck arteries causing no symptoms

May 24, 2022

Kaiser Permanente study suggests medical management alone may reduce stroke risk in patients with severe asymptomatic carotid stenosis.

Lifestyle coaching helps Black adults control high blood pressure

May 18, 2022

A new Kaiser Permanente study found that a culturally tailored program could lead to long-term benefits in adults with hypertension.

Heart bypass surgery may be best treatment after heart attack for some older adults

April 21, 2022

A new Kaiser Permanente study suggests that for many seniors bypass surgery may lead to better long-term outcomes than stenting.

Heart attacks increased in days after 2020 election

April 20, 2022

New Kaiser Permanente study conducted in Northern and Southern California finds more hospitalizations for cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, and heart failure in the 5 days following the election.

Breast cancer treatment linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease

April 6, 2022

Kaiser Permanente study suggests women receiving certain common therapies for breast cancer may be at increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and other types of cardiovascular disease.

Heart disease and stroke deaths up during first year of COVID-19 pandemic

March 23, 2022

Kaiser Permanente study finds reversal of prior national trends and widening racial disparities for Black, Latino, and Asian adults.

Mammography can offer clues to a woman’s heart health

March 15, 2022

Kaiser Permanente research ties the presence of breast arterial calcification seen on screening mammography to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Benefit of dialysis unclear for older people with chronic kidney disease and heart failure

January 31, 2022

Kaiser Permanente study highlights the need for more research on the best patient-centered care for people managing both conditions.

Breast cancer survivors at increased risk for high blood pressure and diabetes

January 13, 2022

New large Kaiser Permanente study led by Marilyn L. Kwan, PhD, finds higher rate of cardiometabolic abnormalities in breast cancer survivors than in women who have not had breast cancer.

Some pulmonary embolism patients effectively treated in primary care

January 12, 2022

Some people who get blood clots in their lungs may be able to skip a visit to the emergency department and be managed safely by their primary care physicians, a new Kaiser Permanente analysis suggests.

People with HIV are at increased risk for heart failure

December 13, 2021

The Kaiser Permanente study found the risk difference was more pronounced in women, Asians and Pacific Islanders, and people under 40.

Hospitalizations for worsening heart failure are likely higher than current statistics suggest

November 22, 2021

Kaiser Permanente study led by research scientists Andrew Ambrosy, MD, and Alan Go, MD, used artificial intelligence to scan the electronic medical records of patients with a history of heart failure.

Smoking doubles the risk of premature heart disease

November 17, 2021

Alongside the Great American Smokeout, Kaiser Permanente research supports efforts to promote smoking cessation.

Researchers conduct largest-ever study of abdominal aortic aneurysms

September 20, 2021

Physician researcher Robert Chang, MD, used a Kaiser Permanente Northern California patient registry to determine a patient’s risk of having a large abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture.

Uncommon kidney disorder significantly increases risk of heart disease and end-stage kidney disease

June 18, 2021

Kaiser Permanente study findings highlight the need for patients with primary nephrotic syndrome to be identified as early as possible to prevent complications.

Emergency care for heart attacks and strokes rebounds

June 2, 2021

Kaiser Permanente study finds declines in heart attack hospitalizations and emergency care for possible strokes reported during onset of the COVID-19 pandemic not seen in subsequent surges.

Artificial intelligence can help improve care for people with heart disease

April 15, 2021

Kaiser Permanente study shows computerized interpretation of doctors’ echocardiogram reports can identify patients with aortic stenosis.

Blood clot risk low in non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients

April 5, 2021

COVID-19 patients who are not hospitalized are at low risk of developing blood clots and should not routinely be prescribed blood thinners, a new Kaiser Permanente research letter suggests.

New tool helps emergency medicine physicians provide more personalized care to patients with chest pain

March 31, 2021

Kaiser Permanente researchers have developed a more precise way to assess a patient’s risk of a heart attack, stroke, or other major heart-related problem within the next 60 days.

Stroke rate four times higher in Black young and middle-aged adults, compared to whites

March 29, 2021

Kaiser Permanente research shows the need for increased education about the dangers of high blood pressure.

Heart failure hospitalizations and deaths vary by race and ethnicity

January 25, 2021

Black patients with heart failure have higher rates of hospitalization for heart failure but lower rates of death than white patients with heart failure, a new Kaiser Permanente study shows.

Long-term exposure to air pollution increases risk of dying from heart disease and stroke

January 4, 2021

New study is first to quantify and compare the effects of long-term exposure to small particle pollution on risk for different types of cardiovascular disease.

Telehealth appointments improve follow-up care in patients with heart failure

September 24, 2020

Kaiser Permanente study is the first to compare early telehealth approach to early in-person follow-up to prevent hospital readmissions.

New virtual, innovative clinical trial for adults at high risk for respiratory illnesses

August 7, 2020

Kaiser Permanente researchers will see if a drug used to reduce risk of heart attack and stroke can also prevent or reduce complications from viral respiratory illnesses in older adults with heart disease.

5 Questions for . . . Stephen Van Den Eeden

June 24, 2020

Research scientist Stephen Van Den Eeden, PhD, is a co-founder of the California Men’s Health Study, one of the largest and longest-running cohort studies of men in the world.

Large decrease in hospitalized heart attack patients seen during COVID-19 pandemic

May 19, 2020

New research by Kaiser Permanente shows the weekly number of patients admitted to Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals with acute myocardial infarction (heart attacks) fell to nearly half of what would be expected after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Heart attack patients who follow more guidelines live longer

March 5, 2020

Patients who followed more medical advice after a heart attack were more likely to survive years later, and their prospects improved with every additional recommendation they followed, according to new research from Kaiser Permanente published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Large study finds physical inactivity as dangerous as smoking for heart disease, stroke

February 10, 2020

A broad look at an ethnically diverse sample of nearly 1 million Kaiser Permanente patients compared the individual contributions of major risk factors for heart attacks and stroke and found physical inactivity a greater risk than expected.

Chronic disease prevalence varies by Asian subgroup, Kaiser Permanente research finds

November 25, 2019

Asian-Americans from different parts of Asia have very different cardiovascular risk factors and chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease, Kaiser Permanente research concludes.

KP Research Radio: Epidemic of deaths due to heart failure underway in U.S.

October 29, 2019

Deaths due to heart failure are increasing in the United States, particularly among the over-age-65 population, according to Kaiser Permanente research published today in JAMA Cardiology.

5 Questions for . . . Drew Ambrosy

August 14, 2019

“To this day, my research interests and clinical practice remain intimately linked, and I firmly believe patient care drives the scientific process, and vice versa.”

New study finds both components of blood pressure predict heart attack, stroke risk

July 17, 2019

“This research brings a large amount of data to bear on a basic question, and it gives such a clear answer,” said lead author Alexander C. Flint, MD, PhD, Kaiser Permanente stroke specialist and adjunct researcher with the Division of Research. “Every way you slice the data, the systolic and diastolic pressures are both important.”

New study data suggests revising heart disease management guidelines for colon cancer survivors

May 16, 2019

“This study demonstrates the importance at every BMI level of having more precise measures of muscle and fat to help identify those patients who are at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease,” said co-author Bette J. Caan, DrPH.

The New Faces of Health Care Research, Pt. 2

January 30, 2019

In part 2 of our profile series, meet the last three of the seven early-career researchers who began their post-doctoral appointments this past year and represent not only diverse communities but diverse research interests as well.

The New Faces of Health Care Research

January 22, 2019

Seven early-career researchers began their post-doctoral appointments this past year and represent not only diverse communities but diverse research interests as well. This is Part 1 of our new class profile.

Work by the Division of Research Makes Top JAMA Lists for 2018

January 14, 2019

The JAMA Network, the publication home for numerous top-tier journals from the American Medical Association, released a list of the “Most Talked About Articles” in each of their various publications for 2018. DOR research appears on four lists.

For Hospitalized Patients with Moderate Anemia, Study Supports Limiting Transfusions

December 17, 2018

Data from Kaiser Permanente supports long-term safety of limiting red blood cell transfusion in hospitalized patients with moderate anemia.

Kaiser Permanente “Tele-triage” of Chest Pain Safely Reduces Emergency Room Visits

December 3, 2018

A new Kaiser Permanente study led by Dana Sax, MD, published today in the December issue of the journal Health Affairs, found that “tele-triage” of patients with chest pain over the phone can safely and effectively direct people to the right place for receiving care.

5 Questions for . . . Steve Sidney

October 24, 2018

“If other health care systems and providers had adopted Kaiser Permanente’s approach and achieved the same rate of decline, I estimated in this latest National Forum report that 40,000 heart disease and stroke deaths in this age group would have been prevented in 2015 alone.”

Heart Health Improves After Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery

October 16, 2018

People who were severely obese and had diabetes had 40 percent fewer heart attacks and strokes — and 67 percent fewer deaths — within 5 years after bariatric weight-loss surgery.

Study Finds Wide Variations in Projected Heart Benefits of Anti-Blood-Clotting Medications for People with Atrial Fibrillation

September 24, 2018

The reported rates of ischemic stroke in four large studies vary substantially, creating uncertainty about the predicted benefits of anticoagulation medication, according to new findings in Annals of Internal Medicine by Kaiser Permanente researchers and colleagues.

Acute Kidney Injury in Hospitals Linked to Increased Risk of Heart Failure

May 17, 2018

Hospitalized patients who experience acute kidney injury face a 44 percent greater risk of heart failure during their first year after leaving the hospital, according to a new Kaiser Permanente study.

Greater Burden of Atrial Fibrillation Linked to Higher Stroke Risk

May 16, 2018

Continuous heart monitoring may help physicians identify patients at higher risk and tailor treatments.

Kaiser Permanente Data Helps Create Street-level View of the Health Impacts of Air Pollution in Oakland

May 15, 2018

Google’s Street View mapping cars have been mapping more than roads lately. Outfitted with new sensors to measure traffic-related air pollution, the cars roamed the streets of Oakland to create a block-by-block map of air pollution in three neighborhoods.

In Reducing Deaths from Heart Disease and Stroke, Kaiser Permanente Outpaces Nation

April 3, 2018

Death rates from heart disease and stroke in adults under age 65 are lower and dropping faster for Kaiser Permanente members in Northern California than in the rest of the United States, according to new research published today in the American Journal of Medicine.

Integrated Program Improves Heart and Stroke Risk Factors in Those With Diabetes

March 22, 2018

Over a 10-year period, control of three key cardiovascular risk factors improved faster for Kaiser Permanente diabetes patients in Northern California than in the rest of the United States, according to research published in the American Journal of Medicine.

A Heart-to-Heart for Researchers

March 20, 2018

The second Cardiovascular Research Symposium drew approximately 80 people including researchers, sub-specialty physicians, quality and operational staff, and others from across Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California region. It was convened at the Division of Research (DOR) in Oakland by Alan S. Go, MD, DOR’s associate director of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Conditions Research.

5 Questions for… Matthew Solomon

February 14, 2018

Matthew Solomon, MD, a Kaiser Permanente cardiologist and researcher, answers 5 questions about himself and the mysteries of the heart.

New Kaiser Permanente Study Improves Follow-up of Chest Pain in Emergency Department Patients

February 13, 2018

OAKLAND, Calif. — A new study, which reviewed more than 118,000 patients arriving at Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California emergency departments...

Kidney Disease Patients with Implantable Heart Defibrillators at Greater Risk of Hospitalization

February 5, 2018

In a study of nearly 6,000 community-based patients with chronic kidney disease and heart failure, the use of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) was associated with a significantly increased risk of subsequent hospitalization.

Kaiser Permanente stroke patients receive clot-busting medication more than twice as fast as national rates

December 15, 2017

Kaiser Permanente hospitals in Northern California are delivering clot-busting medication to new stroke patients more than twice as fast as the national average. This follows the region-wide adoption of an integrated telemedicine program, according to new research published December 15 in the journal Stroke.

DOR’s Steve Sidney honored by National Forum for “exceptional contributions,” research on U.S. heart disease trends

November 1, 2017

The Division of Research’s Stephen Sidney, MD, MPH was honored by the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention for his “exceptional contributions” as well as his work on understanding national trends in cardiovascular disease.

Kaiser Permanente Stroke Express Research Featured at ISC 2017

February 23, 2017

Among the highlights of the 2017 International Stroke Conference (ISC) being held in Houston this week is research that documents...

Heartfelt Thanks for Heart Study Participants

November 21, 2016

Kaiser Permanente Chairman and CEO Bernard J. Tyson thanks CARDIA study participants for 30 years of contributions to medical research....

High blood pressure? Bring It Down!

May 8, 2015

Bring It Down is learning how to close the disparity between black and white people in high blood pressure control,...

Study Targets Hypertension Disparity

July 22, 2013

This year, the KP Northern California Division of Research received an $11 million grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders...

Landmark Heart Study Pioneers Science of Health Disparities

February 20, 2013

Study pioneers the science of health disparities—and launches quest to solve big problems in health care.

Image for New Research Does Not Find Elevated Risk of Serious Cardiovascular Events Associated with Use of ADHD Medications in Young and Middle-aged Adults story

New Research Does Not Find Elevated Risk of Serious Cardiovascular Events Associated with Use of ADHD Medications in Young and Middle-aged Adults

December 21, 2011

In a recently published study, Division researchers found little evidence of increased risk of heart attack, sudden cardiac death or...

Recently presented: Clinicians and researchers work together on hypertension study

June 23, 2011

Division of Research investigators recently assisted physician Marc Jaffe, MD, with presentation of the results from an observational study he led...

Health surveillance tool: Study’s first results say stroke rate down, with uptick among younger adults

May 26, 2011

As chair of the Surveillance Group of the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, Steve Sidney, MD, is...

Presented at heart association conference: Ethnic group stroke rate trends show marked differences

May 23, 2011

Steve Sidney, MD, at left and Noelle Blick, center, coached Preety Kalra, PhD, on how to improve the study presentation...

Breaking the mold: CARDIA changes cardiovascular disease research

January 25, 2011

Until the 1980s, all that was known about the leading cause of death among Americans — cardiovascular disease — had...

CARDIA: Study guardian preserves his own health

January 24, 2011

Nearly everyone involved in Kaiser Permanente’s CARDIA study has at some point heard from Steve Sidney, MD, the study’s principal...

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Cardiovascular