RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
MEASURING INNOVATION IN HEART AND VASCULAR CARE
Throughout the past year , many patients who came to Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital for diagnosis and treatment contributed to the advancement of heart and vascular medicine by participating in a variety of research studies and clinical trials . Conducted through the Baylor Heart and Vascular Institute , research involved new approaches to treatment , including medications , as well as an array of cardiac issues . Physicians and executive leadership at Baylor Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital strengthened their resolve to keep research at the heart of ongoing efforts to improve the diagnosis , treatment and care for patients with cardiac and vascular disease .
Peter McCullough , MD , medical director , Cardiovascular Research and Education – Dallas campus – Baylor Heart and Vascular Institute , and medical director , Cardiology Fellowship Program , Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas , points to the hospital ’ s robust research program and its emphasis on publishing and presenting to various heart and vascular professional groups as differentiators in heart and vascular care in North Texas . In fiscal year 2017 , he was primary investigator for 16 research studies . He points to three of the studies as highlights of the year :
• Neutrophil Gelatinase Associated Lipocalin in the Risk Prediction of Acute Kidney Injury in Critically Ill Patients . This multicenter study led to a publication in the British Medical Journal and was the basis for a large FDA-approved validation study .
Research and Innovation
• Relationship Between a Metabolite of Platelets and Mortality . A Baylor Scott & White sponsored study that has led to additional work attempting to optimize the dose of aspirin for heart patients and to inferences on which patients may need additional antiplatelet drugs for the best outcomes in stable coronary disease .
• The Relationship Between the Timing of Angiography and the Development of Acute Kidney Injury and Major Adverse Cardiac Events ( MARCE ). A study of Baylor Scott & White patients undergoing cardiac surgery which established this critical relationship .
Dr . McCullough gave an international presentation in Mexico City , Mexico , titled “ Vascular and Cardiac Hypertrophy in Fabry Disease ” at the fifth Annual Fabry Nephropathy Update , April 25- 27 , 2017 . He was joined by pediatric neurologist and medical director of the Baylor Scott & White Institute of Metabolic Disease , Raphael Schiffman , MD , a world-renowned expert on Fabry disease .
Dr . McCullough also said he was honored to be selected to give two lectures in fiscal year 2017 at the Target Organ Protection Conference in association with the Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Science and Research in Bangalore , India . This hospital has 1,150 cardiovascular beds , performs more than 10,000 percutaneous coronary procedures annually and trains 63 fellows in cardiology . Dr . McCullough lectured on the prevention of atherosclerosis and cardiorenal syndromes .
“ I ’ m also excited about two large trials that began in fiscal year 2017 . EMPA-REG and CANVAS have shown that a new class of oral diabetes medications called SGLT-2 inhibitors not only control blood sugar , but markedly reduce the risk of heart failure , and attenuate the progression of chronic kidney disease . By using these drugs , patients have better blood pressure control , lose weight and appear to have dramatically improved cardiovascular risk profiles . In my view , these drugs are ‘ game changers ’ for Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease .”
Peter A . McCullough , MD , MPH , FACC , FACP , FAHA , FCCP , FNKF , FNLA , FCRSA
Medical Director , Cardiovascular Research and Education – Dallas Campus – Baylor Heart and Vascular Institute ; Medical Director , Cardiology Fellowship Program – Baylor University Medical Center
78