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. 69 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.