Heart Podcast

In this episode of the Heart podcast, Digital Media Editor, Professor James Rudd, is joined by Dr Tara Chang from Stanford University. They discuss how to assess patients with high blood pressure in the inpatient setting and the best way to manage them. If you enjoy the show, please leave us a positive review wherever you get your podcasts. It helps us to reach more people - thanks! Link to the paper, "Acute elevated blood pressure in the inpatient setting" -  https://heart.bmj.com/content/112/12/658

In this episode of the Heart podcast, Digital Media Editor, Professor James Rudd, is joined by Dr Nick van Osta from Maastricht University. They discuss a review paper on computational modelling in cardiovascular disease. They cover the use of AI for: ECG diagnosis automatic ejection fraction segmentation from echocardiography prediction of success in cardiac resynchronisation therapy If you enjoy the show, please leave us a positive review wherever you get your podcasts. It helps us to reach more people - thanks! Link to published paper: "Individual hearts: computational models for improved management of cardiovascular disease" - https://heart.bmj.com/content/112/11/589  

In this episode of the Heart podcast, Digital Media Editor, Professor James Rudd, is joined by Professor Enoch Akowuah from The University of Newcastle. They discuss what prehabilitation before cardiac surgery is, in terms of its three components, and the evidence base for it, and what he's planning in the largest multi-centre trial the UK has ever seen. If you enjoy the show, please leave us a positive review wherever you get your podcasts. It helps us to reach more people - thanks! Link to published paper: https://heart.bmj.com/content/early/2026/03/16/heartjnl-2025-326769

In this episode of the Heart podcast, Digital Media Editor, Professor James Rudd, is joined by Dr Sharon Ayayo from the University of Manchester, UK. They discuss her analysis of the MINAP database that showed a significant improvement in survival after heart attack in England and Wales, and tried to explain why this had occurred - was it more effective medication, greater use of coronary intervention or something else. If you enjoy the show, please leave us a positive review wherever you get your podcasts. It helps us to reach more people - thanks! Link to published paper: https://heart.bmj.com/content/112/8/446

In this episode of the Heart podcast, Digital Media Editor, Professor James Rudd, is joined by Dr Emma Svennberg from Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden. They discuss her review on AF screening and dive into why many trials have been disappointing and how things might improve in the future. If you enjoy the show, please leave us a positive review wherever you get your podcasts. It helps us to reach more people - thanks! Link to published paper: https://heart.bmj.com/content/early/2026/02/26/heartjnl-2025-326121  

In this episode of the Heart podcast, Digital Media Editor, Professor James Rudd, is joined by Dr Ben Buckley from John Moores University. They discuss his Cochrane systematic review about the use of cardiac rehabilitation in patients with atrial fibrillation, and whether this might lead to a change in the guidelines. Spoiler: there was a significant benefit in terms of reducing the risk of recurrent atrial fibrillation. Listen to find out more! If you enjoy the show, please leave us a positive review wherever you get your podcasts. It helps us to reach more people - thanks! Link to published paper: https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/59/17/1242  

In this episode of the Heart podcast, Digital Media Editor, Professor James Rudd, is joined by Professor Carel le Roux from University College, Dublin and Ulster University. They discuss the trial evidence that has emerged over the last 20 years for both bariatric surgery and the newer GLP-1 medications, focusing particularly on reductions in cardiovascular outcomes. They also discuss where the field of obesity intervention might head over the next five years and how metabolic surgery will continue to have an important role. If you enjoy the show, please leave us a positive review wherever you get your podcasts. It helps us to reach more people - thanks! Link to published paper: https://heart.bmj.com/content/early/2026/02/23/heartjnl-2025-326812

In this episode of the Heart podcast, Digital Media Editor, Professor James Rudd, is joined by Dr Harriette Van Spall from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. They discuss her team's comprehensive review paper all about the intersection of heart failure with the preserved ejection fraction and atrial fibrillation. In particular, they cover the diagnostic challenges in this patient group, established and emerging medications, and the potential for conduction system pacing as a treatment option. If you enjoy the show, please leave us a positive review wherever you get your podcasts. It helps us to reach more people - thanks!   Link to published paper: https://heart.bmj.com/content/early/2026/03/06/heartjnl-2025-326954

In this episode of the Heart podcast, Digital Media Editor, Professor James Rudd, is joined by Dr Matthew Kelham from Bart's Hospital in London, UK. They discuss the difficulties in deciding the best strategy for patients who present with a non-ST elevation myocardial infarction who have had previous bypass grafting. Matt and colleagues used a survey of experts to gain consensus, then provided the experts with the results of a CTCA scan to assess whether the CTCA scan improved decision-making in this hard-to-manage group. If you enjoy the show, please leave us a positive review wherever you get your podcasts. It helps us to reach more people - thanks!   Link to published paper: https://heart.bmj.com/content/early/2026/01/26/heartjnl-2025-326961  

In this episode of the Heart podcast, Digital Media Editor Professor James Rudd is joined by Dr Elinor Tan from the National University of Singapore. They discuss her team's systematic review and meta-analysis of guideline-directed medical therapies in older patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction. They wanted to understand whether this patient group still benefits from such therapies and the profile of adverse events. If you enjoy the show, please leave us a positive review wherever you get your podcasts. It helps us to reach more people - thanks!   Link to published paper: https://heart.bmj.com/content/early/2026/02/11/heartjnl-2025-326305