UK Experts Weigh in on Trends That Will Define the Decade
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 26, 2020) – The year 2020 kicks off a new decade. What will the next 10 years bring in the areas of health, technology, climate, the economy, politics and more? In a new recurring series, UKNow explores the next decade by asking University of Kentucky experts to predict and discuss upcoming trends in their areas. Today, we talk to Dr. Susan Smyth, director of UK HealthCare’s Gill Heart & Vascular Institute.
UKNow: What are you watching for/predicting?
Smyth: We are watching the expansion of novel/disruptive technologies, especially in the realm of structural heart disease, electrophysiology (EP) and heart failure. We are seeing an increase in the use of remote monitoring devices that allow us to track an individual’s status and intervene on conditions in a timelier manner.
As more patients live longer with cardiovascular disease (CVD), more suffer from heart failure, which can develop years later. There has been an explosion of cardio-metabolic preventative drugs that can reduce CVD in patients with diabetes and kidney disease to reduce the chance of heart attacks or developing heart failure.
There are also new drugs that prevent heart attacks by lowering triglyceride levels and alternatives to statins that lower cholesterol.
UKNow: What are UK’s contributions to these developments?
Smyth: We have one of the largest structural heart programs in the region and are historically a top performing leader in clinical trials of new technology that we can offer before FDA approval.
UK has the largest advanced heart failure program in the state, and we serve many surrounding states as well.
Our EP program is steadily growing and offers all of the state-of-the-art solutions from prevention to interventions for irregular heart rhythms.
UKNow: What are trends that are concerning and what is their impact?
Smyth: While we have had a remarkable reduction in CVD rates and mortality from CVD, these trends have begun to reverse, at least – in part – due to the increase in obesity and complications, such as diabetes, that follows. In addition, the cost of some of the new medications on the market and the new devices will drive up the cost of health care and are unaffordable for some individuals. For example, one new medication to prevent heart failure from amyloid cardiomyopathy is priced at $225,000.
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