Aims: The impact of sex-related differences on outcomes following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remains inconclusive. This study investigates sex-related differences in survival and safety outcomes in patients with aortic stenosis undergoing TAVR. Methods and results: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library until November 2024. Individual patient data (IPD) were reconstructed from published Kaplan–Meier curves and compared using Cox-proportional hazards model for overall survival and cardiovascular mortality. Pooled risk ratios (RR) for safety outcomes at 30-days and 1 year were estimated using a random-effects model. A total of 48 studies (69 355 women and 65 580 men) were included. Meta-analysis of reconstructed IPD showed that men were at higher risk of all-cause mortality at 5 years [hazard ratio (HR): 1.24, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.20–1.28, P < 0.001] and cardiovascular mortality at 4 years (HR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.21–1.49, P < 0.001) compared with women. In random-effects meta-analysis, men faced a higher risk of permanent pacemaker implantation (RR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.16–1.44, P < 0.001) during the first year. Men experienced a lower risk of stroke (RR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.64–0.87, P < 0.001) and major vascular complications (RR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.49–0.69, P < 0.001) at 30 days, and a lower risk of major bleeding (RR: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.70–0.84, P < 0.001) as well as major vascular complications (RR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.43–0.68, P < 0.001) within the first year. Conclusion: Men demonstrated poorer 5-year overall survival and 4-year cardiovascular survival following TAVR compared with women. Future research with extended follow-up is needed to understand the mechanism underlying sex-specific TAVR outcomes.

Secondary prevention after acute coronary syndromes is the key strategy to reduce the residual cardiovascular disease risk. A tailored assessment is necessary to suggest the best management and treatment for patients. Sex and gender differences should be strongly considered during cardiovascular evaluation and risk estimation. Indeed, women have a worse outcome than men and are less likely to receive appropriate treatment and evidence-based management. Proper lifestyle management, guideline-directed medical therapy, risk factor management, and cardiac rehabilitation should be recommended early after an acute event in women to reduce the high risk of recurrent events and mortality and improve quality of life. Women-focused cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention represent a necessary step in the management and treatment of patients to ensure the best evidence-based care after acute coronary syndromes. This review offers a critical, updated, and comprehensive overview of the appropriate strategies for secondary prevention in women after acute coronary syndromes and long-term treatment, with a focus on cardiac rehabilitation programs. Furthermore, gaps in evidence on this topic and practical recommendations will be provided.

Background: Although some guidelines recommend Renal denervation (RDN) as an alternative to anti‐HTN medications, there are concerns about its efficacy and safety. We aimed to evaluate the benefits and harms of RDN in a systematic review and meta‐analysis of sham‐controlled randomized clinical trials (RCT).Methods: Databases were searched until September 10th, 2024, to identify RCTs evaluating RDN for treating URH versus sham control. The primary outcomes were the change in office and ambulatory 24‐h systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Secondary outcomes were changes in daytime and nighttime SBP and DBP, home BP, number of anti‐HTN drugs, and related complications. Mean differences (MD) and relative risks (RR) described the effects of RDN on BP and complications, respectively, using random effects meta‐analyses. GRADE methodology was used to assess the certainty of evidence (COE).Results: We found 16 included sham‐controlled RCTs [RDN (n = 1594) vs. sham (n = 1225)]. RDN significantly reduced office SBP (MD −4.26 mmHg, 95% CI: −5.68 to −2.84), 24 h ambulatory SBP (MD −2.63 mmHg), office DBP (MD −2.15 mmHg), 24‐h ambulatory DBP (MD −1.27 mmHg), and daytime SBP and DBP (MD −3.29 and 2.97 mmHg), compared to the sham. The rate of severe complications was low in both groups (0%–2%). The heterogeneity was high among most indices, and CoE was very low for most outcomes.Conclusion: RDN significantly reduced several SBP and DBP outcomes versus sham without significantly increasing complications. This makes RDN a potentially effective alternative to medications in URH.

Cardiac rehabilitation is strongly recommended in secondary cardiovascular prevention. In patients after coronary artery bypass grafting, this intervention is suggested to reduce mortality, morbidity, and disability. In addition, rehabilitation programs improve quality of life and cardiorespiratory fitness. Modern cardiac rehabilitation programs include structured exercise training, education, nutritional counseling, psychosocial support, and management of cardiovascular risk factors, each tailored to the specific needs of post-coronary artery bypass grafting patients who often face a high burden of comorbidities and surgical recovery challenges. For these reasons, cardiac rehabilitation should be regarded as standard of care. Evidence supports early cardiac rehabilitation initiation and individualized multidisciplinary plans, which have shown to improve exercise capacity, health-related quality of life, and medication adherence. Long-term follow-up is essential, as studies have demonstrated a clear association between sustained cardiac rehabilitation engagement and decreased rates of rehospitalization and all-cause mortality. Therefore, this comprehensive review presents recent advances and updates on the management of patients after coronary artery bypass grafting during cardiac rehabilitation, with a focus on the core components and long-term follow-up.

Stent crumpling is a rare but potentially life‐threatening complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This report highlights a case of stent crumpling during a PCI procedure, its management, and the importance of advanced imaging techniques in diagnosing and addressing such complications. A 78‐year‐old man was admitted for elective PCI on the left anterior descending (LAD) artery following an acute anterior ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with thrombolytic therapy. The patient exhibited significant ischemic changes on his electrocardiogram (ECG) and experienced persistent angina. During the PCI, two overlapping stents were deployed in the LAD. Post‐dilation led to slow flow and thrombus formation in the LAD, rapidly progressing to cardiac arrest. Immediate resuscitation and intracoronary thrombolytic therapy were initiated. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) revealed stent crumpling, so the proximal stent folded within the vessel lumen. To solve this issue, the crumpled stent was crushed behind a newly deployed stent, followed by post‐dilation, which restored TIMI flow grade III in the LAD.