Tag Archives: cardiovascular disease (CVD)

The urgency of early diagnosis Blair Elliott, Health Innovation West Midlands CVD accounts for 27% of all deaths in the UK,4 and heart failure is also becoming increasingly prevalent, with over 780,000 people on their GP’s heart failure register.5 The earlier a patient begins treatment for CVD or heart failure, the better their chances of reducing hospitalisation and improving outcomes. Each admission not only adds to the strain on the NHS, but also significantly increases the risk of mortality. Timely recognition of acute symptoms and expedited diagnosis must be at the forefront of our efforts. This is why we are supporting initiatives, su

Mechanisms linking COPD and CVD The interrelationship between COPD and CVD is underpinned by several interconnected pathophysiological mechanisms.3,5 Chronic systemic inflammation, a hallmark of COPD, extends beyond the lungs, contributing to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular dysfunction.5 Elevated levels of inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 are observed in both conditions, suggesting a shared inflammatory pathway.6 Oxidative stress, another key feature of COPD, leads to endothelial dysfunction and vascular damage, accelerating the progression of CVD.7 This is exacerbated by shared risk factors, particularly s

Introduction The 2025 conference was opened by Professor Andre Ng (BCS President, and Professor of Cardiac Electrophysiology, University of Leicester) who celebrated its continued growth. He paid tribute to the late Professor Douglas Chamberlain CBE OStJ KSG, a former BCS President, and a former Consultant Cardiologist at Royal Sussex County Hospital, who was one of the ‘greats’ of cardiology. He leaves a legacy in resuscitation medicine and his pioneering work includes establishing Europe’s first paramedic unit. Advancing preconception care in women with cardiovascular disease Professor Deborah Lawlor Professor Deborah Law

Introduction Retinal ischaemic perivascular lesions (RIPL) describe characteristic atrophic changes of the inner nuclear layer (INL) as a consequence of ischaemic injury.1 These are illustrated by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) as focal thinning of the retinal INL, contemporaneous with enhanced hypo-reflectivity of the outer nuclear layer (ONL).2 RIPLs are chronic lesions originating from paracentral acute middle maculopathy (PAMM); these are hyperacute ischaemic lesions of the middle retina and are associated with multifarious vascular diseases.3,4 As opposed to their hyperacute predecessors (PAMMs), which resolve with