THE INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2025
CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH ACROSS THE LIFESPAN (CHAL) PROGRAM
SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS
New guidelines to better identify people at risk of heart attack and stroke
An international expert panel, co-chaired by Dr. Rhian Touyz of the RI-MUHC, recommends various measures to reduce cardiovascular risks for a wider range of patients
The European Society for Cardiology (ESC) has just released new guidelines for managing high blood pressure and hypertension. These guidelines introduce a new category called "elevated blood pressure," set more ambitious treatment goals for patients receiving BP lowering medication, and, for the first time, suggest using a technique called renal denervation to treat certain types of hypertension.
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is one of the most significant risk factors for heart attacks and strokes, collectively known as cardiovascular disease. In Canada, nearly 25% of adults have hypertension. Developed by an international panel of experts, including co-chairs Dr. Rhian Touyz from The Institute and Dr. Bill McEvoy from the University of Galway in Ireland, the ESC Hypertension guidelines aim to help more patients reach recommended blood pressure targets and increase access to medications that can lower blood pressure, based on the latest clinical research. They may influence future recommendations from other societies around the world, including Canada and the USA. Learn more
Hypertensive pregnancy and cardiovascular risks: New insights
Study highlights the need for enhanced cardiovascular care during pregnancy
A new study has uncovered critical insights into the connection between hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and life-threatening cardiovascular complications during delivery. Published in JAMA Network Open, the research highlights how the severity and type of HDP—such as chronic hypertension, preeclampsia, and HELLP syndrome—significantly impact health risks for pregnant individuals.
The study, led by Dr. Isabelle Malhamé, Scientist in the Cardiovascular Health Across the Lifespan (CHAL) Program at The Institute, was conducted together with Dr. Stella Daskalopoulou, the Co-director of the CHAL Program at The Institute, Dr. Kara Nerenberg and Dr. Amy Metcalfe from University of Calgary, and Dr. Kelsey McLaughlin and Dr. Sonia Grandi from University of Toronto. Learn more
More research highlights from the CHAL Program
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Lívia De Lucca Camargo, Francisco J. Rios, Augusto Cesar I. Montezano, Rhian M. Touyz. Reactive oxygen species in hypertension. Nature Reviews Cardiology 22(1): 2-37, 2025. DOI: 10.1038/s41569-024-01062-6
Ioanna Gianopoulos, Christos Socrates Mantzoros, Stella S. Daskalopoulou. Adiponectin and Adiponectin Receptors in Atherosclerosis. Endocrine Reviews 46(1), 2025: 85214929146: DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnae021
Iulia Iatan, Leo E. Akioyamen, Isabelle L. Ruel, Amanda Guerin, Lindsay Hales, Thais A.A. Coutinho, Liam R. Brunham, Jacques J.G. Genest. Sex differences in treatment of familial hypercholesterolaemia: a meta-analysis. European Heart Journal 45(35): 3231-325, 2024: 85204087886: DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehae417
Jacqueline E. Joza, Haran Burri, Jason G. Andrade, Dominik K. Linz, Kenneth A. Ellenbogen, Kevin Vernooy. Atrioventricular node ablation for atrial fibrillation in the era of conduction system pacing. European Heart Journal 45(46): 4887-491, 2024: 85212457495: DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehae656
Elvin Kedhi, Renicus S. Hermanides, Jan Henk E. Dambrink, Sandeep K. Singh, Jurriën Maria Ten Berg, Dirk Jan van Ginkel, Martin Hudec, Giovanni Amoroso, Ignacio J. Amat, Martin Andreas, Rui Campante Teles, Guillaume Bonnet, Éric van Belle, Lenard Conradi,. TransCatheter aortic valve implantation and fractional flow reserve-guided percutaneous coronary intervention versus conventional surgical aortic valve replacement and coronary bypass grafting for treatment of patients with aortic valve stenosis and compl. The Lancet 404(1471): 2593-262, 2024: 85212315204: DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)02100-7
Isabelle Malhamé, Kara A. Nerenberg, Kelsey McLaughlin, Sonia M. Grandi, Stella S. Daskalopoulou, Amy Metcalfe. Hypertensive Disorders and Cardiovascular Severe Maternal Morbidity in the US, 2015-2019. JAMA Network Open 7(1), 2024: 85205527153: DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.36478
Karan Pongpanit, Natalie Dayan, Tania Janaudis-Ferreira, Marc Roig Pull, Jadranka A. Spahija, Mariane Bertagnolli. Exercise effects on maternal vascular health and blood pressure during pregnancy and postpartum: a systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology 31(13): 166-162, 2024: 85204660049: DOI: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwae165
Rhian M. Touyz, Jeroen H.F. de Baaij, Joost G.J. Hoenderop. Magnesium Disorders. New England Journal of Medicine 390(21): 1998-29, 2024. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMra1510603
Alexander R. Opotowsky, Paul Khairy Dr, Gerhard Paul Diller, Nadine Angele Kasparian, James M. Brophy, Kathy J. Jenkins, Keila Natilde Lopez, Allison B. McCoy, Philip Moons, Nicholas Jay Ollberding, Rahul H. Rathod, Jack R. Rychik, George Thanassoulis, Vasan S. Ramachandran, Ariane J. Marelli. Clinical Risk Assessment and Prediction in Congenital Heart Disease Across the Lifespan: JACC Scientific Statement. Journal of the American College of Cardiology 83(21): 292-2111, 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2024.02.055
Leslie M. Skeith, Ann Kinga Malinowski, Darine M. El-Chaâr, Wee Shian Chan, Jennifer C. Donnelly, Céline Chauleur, Wessel J. Ganzevoort, Stephen L. Wood, Suzanne Dubois, Claire Marie McCarthy, Andréa Buchmul̈ler, Hanke M.G. Wiegers, Paul S. Gibson, Fionnu, Marc A. Rodger. Low-dose aspirin versus placebo in postpartum venous thromboembolism: a multi-national, pilot, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. The Lancet Haematology 12(2): e19-e119, 2025. DOI: 10.1016/S2352-3026(24)00338-7
Allan D. Sniderman, Line Dufresne, Karol Mateusz Pencina, Selin Bilgic, George Thanassoulis, Michael J. Pencina. Discordance among apoB, non--high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides: implications for cardiovascular prevention. European Heart Journal 45(27): 241-2418, 2024: 85198432858: DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehae258
Pablo Enrique Solla-Suárez, Saleena Gul Arif, Fayeza Ahmad, Neelabh Rastogi, Andrew Meng, Joshua M. Cohen, Julia Rodighiero, Nicoló Piazza, Giuseppe Martucci, Sandra B. Lauck, John G. Webb, Dae-hyun Kim, Bojan Kovacina, Jonathan Afilalo. Osteosarcopenia and Mortality in Older Adults Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement. JAMA Cardiology 9(7): 611-618, 2024: 85193735754: DOI : 10.1001/jamacardio.2024.0911
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