Outcomes 2019 - Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular Hospital BSWHHVH_646_2019 Outcomes JOOMAG MOD | Page 69

The Preventive Cardiology Registry, a part
of Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular
Institute, began in 2014 with funding assistance
from the Cardiovascular Research Review
Committee at Baylor Scott & White Health. Since
August 2018, 65 patients have received genetic
screening for familial hypercholesterolemia
(FH) and 11 of those patients have received
genetic confirmation. Additional analyses are
ongoing on this population. As a direct result of
this study, cardiologists will be better equipped
to provide treatment and appropriate medical
management for this unique group of patients.
Leading research studies in FY19
EMPEROR-Reduced and EMPEROR-Preserved
The aim of these studies is to investigate the safety
and efficacy of empagliflozin versus placebo
on top of guideline-directed medical therapy in
patients with heart failure and either reduced
ejection fraction or preserved ejection fraction.
While there are medications for the treatment of
heart failure, 50% of patients with congestive heart
Empagliflozin, while invented for the treatment
of diabetes, may have direct heart benefit, a
premise that is being tested in these two trials.
A sodium-glucose transporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i)
drug, empagliflozin has been shown to lower blood
pressure, reduce weight, and dramatically cut the
rates of heart and kidney failure. As a result of the
EMPEROR studies and other research, the Food
and Drug Administration has granted Fast Track
designation to empagliflozin for the reduction of
the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization
for heart failure in people with chronic heart failure.
EMPEROR Principal investigators are Cara East, MD,
and Peter McCullough, MD.
Soltero Cardiovascular Research
Ongoing research
failure typically die within five years. Thus, there
is an unmet need for additional medications to
treat heart failure.
Founded in 1987 on the Baylor Dallas campus,
Soltero Cardiovascular Research Center (SCRC),
a part of Baylor Scott & White Research Institute,
has continued to grow in number of research
studies and clinical trials in fiscal year 2019.
Cara East, MD, FAPCR, FACP, FACC, Director,
Soltero Cardiovascular Research Center,
and Clinical Professor, Texas A&M College of
Medicine, led the team to acquire the MAGI Blue
Ribbon Site* designation in fiscal year 2019.
In fiscal year 2019, there were more than
eight presenters at the American College of
Cardiology annual conference and more than
15 poster presentations by cardiovascular
physicians on the medical staff of Baylor
Scott & White Heart and Vascular Hospital –
Dallas and Baylor University Medical Center.
One of the speakers representing the Dallas
campus, Kristen Tecson, PhD, relayed findings
from the study, “Time From Admission to
Cardiac Surgery is Associated with Major
Adverse Renal or Cardiac Events (MARCE),”
(Tecson KM, Wheelan KR, McCullough PA).
A key finding from this study noted that
the wait time from hospital admission to
cardiac surgery lasting more than two
days was associated with an approximate
43% increased risk for 1-year MARCE,
after adjusting for the Society of Thoracic
Surgeons’ predicted risk of mortality. While
more work is needed to generalize these
findings to a broader population, they provide
early data that indicate the benefits of
performing cardiac surgery within two days
of hospital admission, when clinically possible.
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This designation recognizes that a commitment to
excellence is a unifying principle that can inspire
a team to go beyond just doing their jobs. Blue
Ribbon Sites exhibit the following characteristics:
• Experience
• Stability
• Quick study start-up
• Access to a large patient database
• Consistently meet or exceed enrollment
commitments
• Generate high-quality data in a timely manner
Also in 2019, Dr. East celebrated
the publication of her new book
titled “Developing a Successful
Clinical Research Program” based
on her experience leading Soltero
Cardiovascular Research on the
Baylor Dallas campus.
*About Magi Blue Ribbon Site – MAGI is an organization that assists in streamlining
clinical research by standardizing best practices for clinical research operations,
business and regulatory compliance. MAGI is operated by First Clinical Research LLC, a
company dedicated to advancing the practice of clinical research.