Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for the U.S., but the nation continues to lag behind in addressing it — 27 states have even received grades of "D" or "F" for cardiovascular outcomes.

Ohio-based Cleveland Clinic researchers found erythritol, a popular artificial sweetener, is associated with increased risk of heart attack, stroke and clotting.

Many big health problems begin as much smaller health problems. A recent study showed that 38% of new heart failure patients, for instance, are first diagnosed in acute care facilities, but nearly half of them were showing symptoms up to six months before they eventually landed in the hospital.[1]

Rancho Mirage, Calif.-based Eisenhower Health is expanding its cardiovascular care with a $156 million, four-story outpatient cardiology ambulatory center, the Desert Sun reported Feb. 26.

MIT engineers have developed 3D-printed hearts that are the same size, shape and pump the same blood volume as the original — and are hopeful they can be a significant innovation in cardiology.

Lebanon, N.H.-based Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center is praising one of its cardiology fellows who provided CPR to a person before providing them treatment at the hospital.

A recent study found disparities in heart failure care between rural and urban hospitals, but no significant difference in 30-day or in-hospital outcomes.

Steven Lome, DO, a medical director at Montage Medical Group, only had plans to run a half marathon with his two teenage sons. Instead, he completed the race and saved two men from cardiac arrest, U.S. News reported Feb. 20.

Columbus-based Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is testing an app that can detect potential heart failure through analysis of speech patterns, The Lantern reported Feb. 20.

Here are four health systems and hospitals opening heart programs:

The American College of Cardiology, the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, and the American Heart Association released new training requirements for interventional cardiology trainees, according to a news release shared with Becker's.

The American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions jointly outlined competency-based training requirements for interventional cardiology trainees.

Cardiovascular disease is the top killer of women, but only 44 percent of women recognize cardiovascular disease as a risk for them, according to an article on the American Heart Association website.

University of California San Francisco made history with what it believes is the first all-woman heart transplant team, the San Francisco Times reported Feb. 14.

Ten Florida cardiologists agreed to pay $2 million to the state of Florida to resolve allegations that they submitted inflated claims to Medicare and Medicaid and billed while the physicians were outside the U.S.

Here are eight programs, initiatives, procedures and studies by some of the innovative heart centers in the country:

Twenty-six health systems and hospitals throughout the Midwest and the East joined the American Heart Association's heart failure and patient care initiative, the association said Feb. 13. 

Three Ascension hospitals were part of a global study that found a more effective way to treat ischemic strokes.

Palo Alto, Calif.-based Stanford Medicine Children's Health completed a 10-year study to find ways to shorten wait times for pediatric heart transplants.

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's Heart Center successfully inserted a pacemaker into a premature baby.