The 2025 High Blood Pressure Guideline introduces key updates to the 2017 recommendations, reflecting the evolving understanding of hypertension and its long‑term impact on patient health. This update emphasizes evidence‑based strategies for diagnosis and management, highlighting the importance of standardized guidelines in improving outcomes. Key takeaways include refined treatment thresholds, enhanced risk‑stratification approaches, and clearer direction for individualized patient care. Looking ahead, the guideline underscores a forward‑thinking approach that integrates emerging research to support more proactive hypertension management.

In this interview, Clyde W. Yancy MD, MACC and Daniel W. Jones, MD discuss the 2025 AHA/ACC High Blood Pressure Guideline.

Heart and kidney disease are closely linked, as individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) face a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular events and heart failure. Because this cardiometabolic connection is so strong, identifying high‑risk individuals early is essential to preventing progression of both conditions. A holistic approach—including guideline‑directed therapies that target blood pressure, glucose, and inflammation—can simultaneously lower the risk of heart disease and slow kidney decline. Newer treatments now allow clinicians to address both organs together, improving long‑term health outcomes.

In this interview, Allen J. Taylor, MD, FACC and Janani Rangaswami, MD examine "Cardiovascular-Kidney Therapies in CKD". 

The findings from the TUXEDO‑2 trial provide important clinical insights for managing high‑risk patients with diabetes and multivessel coronary disease undergoing stenting. By directly comparing ticagrelor and prasugrel within a dual antiplatelet therapy regimen, the trial helps clarify whether one agent offers superior protection in this complex population. These results may influence clinical decision‑making, particularly if meaningful differences in outcomes are demonstrated.

In this interview, Sidney C. Smith Jr., MD, MACC and Sripal Bangalore, MD, MHA discuss the TUXEDO-2 Trial.

The OCEAN Trial found that rivaroxaban did not significantly reduce the incidence of stroke, systemic embolism, or new covert embolic events compared with aspirin in patients at high risk for stroke who had undergone catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AFib) at least one year earlier. The central question—whether patients with a successful AFib ablation can safely discontinue anticoagulation—remains unresolved. Overall, the trial reinforces the importance of individualized risk assessment rather than routine discontinuation of anticoagulation after ablation.

In this interview, Thomas F. Deering MD, FACC and Atul Verma, MD FACC discuss the "OCEAN Trial: Antithrombotic Therapy after Successful Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation".

What exactly is incidental coronary artery calcification, and what does it mean when artificial intelligence identifies these calcifications? Incidental coronary artery calcification refers to calcium deposits in the coronary arteries that are detected on imaging studies performed for unrelated reasons. AI now enables clinicians to repurpose routine clinical images to efficiently and scalably assess an individual's risk of atherosclerotic coronary disease. How best to translate these AI‑driven insights into meaningful changes in patient care, however, remains an important area for continued research and clinical guidance.

In this interview, C. Noel Bairey Merz MD, MACC and Ramzi Dudum MD, FACC discuss the NOTIFY-PICTURE Trial: Effects of Real-Time Notification of AI-Detected Incidental Coronary Artery Calcium on Statin Prescription.

The VESALIUS‑CV trial demonstrated that adding the PCSK9 inhibitor evolocumab to optimized lipid‑lowering therapy significantly reduced the risk of first major cardiovascular events by 25% in high‑risk adults without prior heart attack or stroke and cut the risk of first heart attack by 36%. These results confirm that intensive LDL‑C lowering with evolocumab provides meaningful primary‑prevention benefits in patients with atherosclerosis or diabetes, achieving substantial event reduction over more than four years of follow‑up.

In this interview, Nanette Kass Wenger MD, MACC and Erin A. Bohula, MD, FACC discuss the VESALIUS-CV Trial: Effect of Evolocumab in Patients at CV Risk without Prior MI or Stroke.

Is the evidence convincing that intensive antihypertensive therapy protects brain function and helps prevent dementia? Research increasingly shows that high mid‑life blood pressure is a strong predictor of later cognitive decline. Emerging data further indicate that intensive blood‑pressure lowering can reduce the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia while remaining safe for many older adults.

In this interview, Glenn A. Hirsch MD, MHS, FACC and Paul K Whelton, MB, MD, MSc discuss "Hypertension Treatment Trials in the Elderly for Brain Health".