Journal Wrap | Flu Vaccine Reduces Hospitalizations; Reducing Stroke Risk in CAS
The hottest research from various peer-reviewed journals – handpicked weekly by the ACC.
High-Dose Flu Vaccine Reduces Hospitalizations
High-dose inactivated influenza vaccine (HD-IIV) was more effective than standard-dose inactivated influenza vaccine (SD-IIV) in reducing severe outcomes and hospitalizations, based on findings from the FLUNITY-HD pooled analysis published in The Lancet.
- Read results from DANFLU-2 and GALFLU.
- Access patient resources from CardioSmart including a downloadable infographic on vaccinations and heart health.
SURMOUNT-4: Weight Gain After Stopping Tirzepatide
Among participants with obesity who achieved ≥10% weight reduction following 36-week tirzepatide treatment, withdrawing the drug led to a ≥25% weight regain in most within one year, according to a post hoc analysis of the SURMOUNT-4 trial published in JAMA Internal Medicine. Furthermore, improvements in initial cardiometabolic parameters were reversed more in those who regained than maintained their weight loss.
Stent Optimization Post OCT-Guided PCI Improves Outcomes
Among patients with complex lesions who underwent optical coherence tomography (OCT)-guided PCI, long lesions and small vessels were identified as major determinants of OCT suboptimization, and achieving successful stent optimization was significantly associated with improved clinical outcomes, according to a post hoc analysis of the OCCUPI trial published in EHJ.
What Reduces Stroke Risk in Asymptomatic CAS?
Adding stenting to medical therapy but not endarterectomy, vs. medical therapy alone, led to a significantly lower risk of stroke in patients with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis (CAS), according to two parallel CREST-2 trials presented at the Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology meeting and published simultaneously in NEJM.
Clinical Topics: Cardiovascular Care Team, Invasive Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention, Noninvasive Imaging, Prevention, Vascular Medicine, Interventions and Imaging, Interventions and Vascular Medicine, Diet
Keywords: Cardiology Magazine, ACC Publications, CM-Jan-Feb-2026, Influenza Vaccines, Vaccination, Hospitalization, Anti-Obesity Agents, Obesity, Heart Disease Risk Factors, Weight Gain, Weight Loss, Obesity Management, Fasting, Tomography, Endarterectomy, Drug-Eluting Stents, Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, Tomography, Optical Coherence, Constriction, Pathologic, Carotid Artery Diseases, Stroke, Carotid Arteries, Carotid Stenosis, Ischemic Stroke, Stents
