A study presented at the 2019 International Conference on Nuclear Cardiology and Cardiac CT found that the machine learning algorithm LogitBoost, which contains data from PET scans, coronary CT angiography scans and medical records, was more than 90% accurate in predicting the likelihood of heart attack and death in patients with chest pain who were evaluated for coronary artery disease. Researchers also found that combining PET, CT and clinical data had an area under the curve of 0.82, compared with AUCs of 0.69 for PET and clinical data only and 0.65 for clinical data alone.

Researchers reviewed data on almost 240 patients with obesity who are undergoing ablation for atrial fibrillation and found that less than 20% of those who underwent bariatric surgery before ablation had a recurrence of their AFib, compared with 61% of those who did not have weight-loss surgery before ablation. The findings, to be presented at the Heart Rhythm Society annual meeting, also showed that only 12% of those who underwent bariatric surgery needed another ablation, compared with 41% of patients who did not have the surgery.

A daily low dose of aspirin may raise the risk of intracranial hemorrhage, potentially outweighing any benefit to people without a history of stroke and heart disease, according a report in the journal JAMA Neurology. The findings support recent changes to guidelines calling for aspirin to be used on a preventive basis only by patients at high risk of a stroke or heart attack.

Forty-seven percent of patients with late-onset type 1 diabetes self-reported having type 2 diabetes, and 38% did not receive insulin at diagnosis, according to a study in Diabetologia. The study identified 583 people with severe insulin deficiency who were diagnosed after age 30.

Top House Democrats sent letters to Attorney General William Barr and White House counsel Pat Cipollone demanding access to documents involving the Justice Department's decision to support a federal court case seeking to eliminate the entire Affordable Care Act. "This action could deprive millions of Americans of health insurance coverage," the lawmakers wrote.

Policymakers and health care professionals must take social determinants of health into consideration to better address health inequity and rising health care costs in the US, writes Beverly Malone, a former HHS deputy assistant secretary and CEO of the National League for Nursing. This means tools to address SDOH must be incorporated not only in medical practice, but also in education and training of future health care professionals, Malone writes.

There is still time to share your best practices! ASNC will award three prizes based on the most innovative, creative ideas and implementable plans: first prize, $3,000; second prize, $2,500; third prize, $1,000. The three finalists will be invited to present their solutions to a live viewing audience and an evaluation panel at ASNC2019 in Chicago. ASNC's Nuclear Cardiology Choosing Wisely® Challenge is a competition designed to help our members. Share your most creative practice innovations and technology solutions, support the growth of your specialty, earn cash prizes and advance your career. Learn more and enter your submission.

The latest episode of the JNC/ASNC Podcast is out now! Dr. Fadi Hage, MASNC; Dr. Lane Duvall, FASNC; and Dr. Milena Henzlova, MASNC, discuss risk stratification with vasodilator stress SPECT MPI in patients with elevated cardiac biomarkers. Listen now!