A recent focused issue of JACC brings together timely and diverse contributions in electrophysiology (EP) and cardiovascular care. Highlights include the FINE-HEART pooled analysis on atrial fibrillation prevention, one-year results from ADVANTAGE-AF on pulsed field ablation, and proactive electrophysiological mapping to reduce defibrillator implantation rates in congenital heart disease. A major study of sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes showing rising survival rates, but persistent racial disparities, and calling for data-informed policy solutions, is also included. Plus, don't miss two editorials, including one co-authored by former FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, MD, MACC, on strengthening device surveillance.

Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight before pregnancy may be instrumental in promoting maternal health and reducing future heart disease risk, according to findings from an observational study published in JACC.

Researchers tracked outcomes over 10 to 14 years in 4,269 pregnant women across nine countries to assess whether adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) are a marker or mediator of prepregnancy BMI and later development of risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The mean maternal age of participants was 30 years and 11% had prepregnancy obesity.

Evidence-based recommendations on how to best optimize the care of patients with heart failure (HF) through nonpharmacological strategies are part of a recent State-of-the-Art Review published in JACC: Heart Failure.

The review addresses strategies for diet, exercise and cardiac rehabilitation and provides guidance on mood and substance disorders, as well as sleep-disordered breathing – all treatments that are "important but often underutilized," according to Onyedika J. Ilonze, MD, FACC, et al.

Donation after circulatory determination of death (DCD) heart transplant recipients with hearts retrieved via thoraco-abdominal normothermic regional perfusion (taNRP) were less likely to have severe primary graft dysfunction (PGD) and exhibited fewer episodes of biopsy-proven acute-cellular rejection (ACR) at one year compared to those with hearts retrieved through direct procurement and perfusion (DPP), according to an international, multicenter study presented at ISHLT 2025 and simultaneously published in JACC: Heart Failure.

The OMNYPULSE pulsed field ablation (PFA) catheter had a 100% acute success rate, paired with a strong safety profile, in treating paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AFib), according to the three-month results of Omny-IRE presented as a late-breaking trial at HRS 2025 and simultaneously published in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology. Additionally, prespecified remapping at three months following ablation showed good durability of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI).

Patients with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) have worse outcomes in cardiac intensive care units (CICUs), particularly a high rate of readmissions and mortality, according to a new study published in JACC: Advances.

In this retrospective cohort study, Luke J. Burchill, MBBS, PhD, et al., analyzed data from 12,428 unique CICU admissions at Mayo Clinic from 2007 to 2018 (including patients post percutaneous transcatheter procedure but not post open cardiac surgery).