Background: Despite an established association between heart failure (HF) and lung cancer (LC), there is limited evidence available regarding mortality patterns among the older (>= 65 years) population in the United States. Methods: The mortality data, spanning 1999 to 2019, was surveyed using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) database with HF and LC identified as underlying or contributing causes of death. Crude and age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) were calculated per 100,000 individuals. Joinpoint regression was applied to establish annual percent changes (APCs) for the trends in years, demographics (sex, race), and geographical regions. Results: Between 1999 and 2019, the overall AAMR slightly decreased from 13.0 to 11.4. However, the AAMRs significantly increased (APC: 6.37; 95 % CI: 3.39 to 8.23) from 2017 to 2019. Males had double the AAMRs compared to females (overall AAMR: 15.7 vs. 8.0), yet both sexes experienced a final incline in death rates. Among the distinct racial and ethnic groups, non-Hispanic (NH) Whites (11.9) and NH Black/African Americans (10.9) portrayed the highest AAMRs. Patients most commonly died in medical facilities (41.03 %). Geographical disparities were evident with higher AAMRs in non-metropolitan areas (14.3) and the Midwest (12.7). States with the highest fatality involved West Virginia, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Arkansas. Conclusion: The abrupt rise in overall mortality rates for HF and LC from 2017 to 2019 is noteworthy. A focused analysis of demographic and geographic disparities is warranted to address this emerging trend.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a further light-based intravascular imaging modality and provides a high-resolution, cross-sectional view of coronary arteries. It has a useful anatomic and increasingly physiological evaluation in light of coronary artery disease (CAD). This review provides a critical examination of the increased application of the OCT in assessing coronary artery physiology, beyond its initial mainstay application in anatomical imaging. OCT provides precise information on plaque morphology, which can help identify vulnerable plaques, and is most important in informing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs), including implanting a stent and optimizing it. The combination of OCT and functional measurements, such as optical flow ratio and OCT-based fractional flow reserve (OCT-FFR), permits a more complete assessment of coronary stenoses, which may provide increased diagnostic accuracy and better revascularization decision-making. The recent developments in OCT technology have also enhanced the accuracy in the measurement of coronary functions. The innovations may support the optimal treatment of patients as they provide more personalized and individualized treatment options; however, it is critical to recognize the limitations of OCT and distinguish between the hypothetical advantages and empirical outcomes. This review evaluates the existing uses, technological solutions, and future trends in OCT-based physiological imaging and evaluation, and explains how such an advancement will be beneficial in the treatment of CAD and gives a fair representation concerning other imaging applications.

Percutaneous coronary intervention outcomes rely heavily on accurate lesion assessment and procedural planning. Invasive tools, such as fractional flow reserve, nonhyperemic pressure ratios, intravascular ultrasound, and optical coherence tomography, provide essential physiological and anatomic insights but are resource-intensive, prolong procedures, and increase contrast and radiation exposure. Coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography has emerged as a noninvasive modality with high diagnostic accuracy for coronary artery disease, capable of detailing plaque composition, lesion length, and vessel geometry. With the integration of CT-derived fractional flow reserve and CT myocardial perfusion imaging, coronary CT angiography now offers both anatomic and functional evaluation, bridging diagnostic and interventional decision-making. Despite guideline endorsement for coronary artery disease diagnosis, its role in guiding percutaneous coronary intervention strategies remains underutilized and absent from revascularization recommendations. This review outlines a practical, step-by-step framework for integrating coronary CT angiography into contemporary percutaneous coronary intervention planning, covering acquisition protocols, software platforms, lesion assessment, and stent strategy optimization. It also explores emerging intraprocedural applications, including fusion imaging, augmented and virtual reality, and holographic visualization. By synthesizing current evidence and identifying gaps, this review positions coronary CT angiography as a promising adjunct in precision-based percutaneous coronary intervention.