Obese adults who are metabolically healthy still are at higher risk of heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and heart failure, compared with people at a normal weight, according to a study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Cardiovascular risks increased with the number of metabolic abnormalities people had, regardless of body type.

Children with elevated blood levels of perfluoroalkyl substances from dust exposure during the 9/11 terrorist attacks had significantly higher blood levels of artery-hardening fats, especially LDL cholesterol, compared with those with low PFAS exposure, researchers reported in the journal Environment International. The findings, based on blood tests from 308 youths in New York born from 1993 to 2001, also tied every threefold increase in blood levels of perfluorooctanoic acid, a type of PFAS, to a 9% to 15% increase in LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and other blood fats.

A study in Cardiovascular Diabetology showed that older type 2 diabetes patients who took SGLT2 inhibitors had a reduced risk of heart failure, compared with patients on dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors. Researchers used a cohort of 14,697 patients and found a 32% lower heart hospitalization risk among older diabetes patients at higher risk of recurrent heart failure on SGLT2 inhibitors than those prescribed with DPP-4 inhibitors, but no difference was found among patients younger than 65 or without a history of complications.

Men in their late 50s and 60s with overweight or obese wives had an increased type 2 diabetes risk after an average follow-up of 11.5 years, compared with men who had slimmer wives, according to a study presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes' annual meeting. Danish researchers evaluated almost 7,000 couples and found that after adjusting for age, ethnicity and socioeconomic status, men whose wives had a body mass index of 30 were at a 33% increased risk of developing diabetes, compared with those whose wives had a BMI of 25.

A Census Bureau report found that the percentage of Americans who were uninsured fell to a record low of 8.8% in 2016 from 9.1% in 2015. Last year was the third consecutive year the uninsured rate declined, a trend that started in 2014 when the majority of the Affordable Care Act's coverage provisions were implemented.

Offering incentives for health care providers to use telehealth may be one way to bring them into an accountable care or other advanced payment arrangement, says Sue Thompson, a member of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission. "I think we'd have an easier time recruiting providers into behavioral health modalities and family practice modalities if we could talk about how this creates a lifestyle that's pretty attractive," Thompson said.

ASNC2017 begins tomorrow, Sept. 14. For those who will not be able to attend, this year ASNC is offering a more interactive experience of the 22nd Annual Scientific Meeting, Sept. 14-17, 2017, in Kansas City, Mo., with access to livestreaming Sept. 15-17 of 10 key sessions. The focus of the ASNC2017 meeting is to showcase current best practices, new ideas and emerging technology, radiation safety and appropriate use criteria in the nuclear cardiology clinical practice. The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 53.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.

ASNC wants to do our part with the efforts, so we set up a fundraising campaign in conjunction with the American Red Cross. As a nonprofit in health care, we know the unique challenges organizations can face, but nothing compares to alleviating human suffering in the face of emergencies such as Hurricane Harvey. The devastation in the Houston area is catastrophic, and recovery will require the support of many, spanning over several years. Our thoughts are extended to the entire community and to our members and their patients. Donate now.