A meta-analysis published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health found that the global prevalence of childhood hypertension is increasing, with rates of 4.28% using in-office blood pressure measurements and 6.67% when combining in-office and out-of-office measurements. With an in-office approach, the highest hypertension rates were found for children and adolescents with obesity, at 18.77%. Overall, the data included 443,914 children in 21 countries.

A combination pill of candesartan cilexetil, amlodipine and chlorthalidone can improve blood pressure control in individuals with uncontrolled hypertension, according to a study in JACC: Advances. The research, conducted at 19 sites in Brazil, found that the combination pill was more effective than a control treatment, with a greater reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure over 12 weeks.

Research published in JACC indicates that an individualized vitamin D3 treatment strategy for patients post-heart attack may significantly reduce their risk of experiencing another. Findings were also presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions.

The diabetes drug metformin may reduce the health benefits of exercise, according to a placebo-controlled study published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Researchers found that metformin may blunt improvements in blood pressure, fitness and blood glucose control that typically result from regular exercise, and noted one factor may be how metformin affects mitochondria.

New CPT code changes for invasive cardiology procedures and interventional radiology that take effect Jan. 1 include 24 deleted codes for services that currently account for an average of 12.7% of total net hospital revenue, according to a report from Kodiak. Although 48 new cardiology and interventional radiology codes have been added, the elimination of codes may have an impact on hospital revenue. Denial rates are high for initial IC and IR outpatient claims, but appeals are usually successful. The coding changes could worsen the claim denial rate, according to the report.

President Donald Trump announced new agreements with Eli Lilly and Co. and Novo Nordisk to make GLP-1 weight-loss drugs available at significantly lower prices. Some Medicare beneficiaries with obesity-related health risks would pay only a $50 monthly co-pay starting next year, while uninsured consumers could see prices drop to around $350 a month through TrumpRx. Experts called it a potential breakthrough for access but question the feasibility of the timeline, adding that Medicare's current ban on covering weight-loss drugs could delay implementation until new pilot programs or legislation are in place.