TCTMD’s Top 10 Most Popular Stories for February 2026

Some of the biggest news on TCTMD in February highlighted the potential risks with TAVI, including follow-up from the Evolut Low Risk randomized trial that hinted at potentially higher rates of adverse outcomes in low-risk patients treated with the balloon-expandable valve. Another, this one an observational study, suggested aortic stenosis-related mortality increased when the US Food and Drug Administration expanded TAVI to lower-risk patients.

Other news articles, though, focused on studies that reassured. With statins, a much-maligned drug class, the CTT Collaboration concluded that concerns about side effects are overblown. OCEANIC-STROKE, presented at the 2026 International Stroke Conference, found that asundexian (Bayer) can reduce the risk of recurrent stroke without a penalty of increased bleeding.

Additional favorites included a deep dive into the future of interatrial shunting for heart failure (HF) patients, new US recommendations on treatment of pulmonary embolism, and data showing the massive number of patients who might be candidates for cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome medications. Rounding out the top 10 were stories that explored the continued delays in NSTEMI reperfusion, factors driving success in M-TEER, and the use of inter-arterial lytic therapy after thrombectomy for stroke.

1. Higher Reintervention Risk With TAVI Emerges at 6 to 7 Years in Evolut Low Risk Trial

What to make of the results remains uncertain, but experts agree that greater vigilance in low-risk patients is warranted.

2. ISC 2026 OCEANIC-STROKE: Asundexian Prevents Recurrent Strokes, With No Added Bleeding

The “truly groundbreaking” results expand the tool kit for secondary stroke prevention, one expert says.

3. Side Effects of Statins Might Be Overstated: CTT Collaboration

Statin labels should be revised to reflect their safety and to hopefully spur better uptake and adherence, say experts.

4. STS 2026 ‘Concerning’ Trends Seen in Aortic Stenosis-Related Mortality: CDC WONDER 

The implication, some say, is that when TAVI expanded to lower-risk patients in 2019, death rates rose—not so fast, say others.

5. Nearly 150 Million US Adults Eligible for CKM Syndrome Meds

Observational data point to the scope of opportunity that lies in GLP-1 drugs, SGLT2 inhibitors, and nonsteroidal MRAs.

6. AHA/ACC Guideline Tackles Evidence-Based Acute PE Care

A highlight of the document is a new severity clinical category system to account for phenotypes and respiratory issues.

7. FEATURE Holding Out Hope for HF Shunts, Even After an FDA Panel’s Doubts

Doctors say that identifying the right patients will be critical to the future of the field. Only time will tell, according to trialists.

8. Meta-analysis Teases Out What Drives Success in M-TEER

By slicing and dicing the data, the study confirms MITRA-FR as an outlier and emphasizes the need for careful patient selection.

9. ISC 2026 CHOICE-2 Bolsters Intra-arterial Lytics After Stroke Thrombectomy

With the study adding to a mix of conflicting trial results, it’s not yet time to update guidelines, Shyam Prabhakaran says.

10. In-Hospital STEMI Patients Face Reperfusion Delays and Worse Outcomes

It’s a known problem, but treatment hasn’t improved in 20 years. Experts say it’s time for protocolized systems of care.

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Meeting season has begun to kick off. In February, TCTMD Executive Editor Caitlin Cox attended the inaugural European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions Summit in Munich, Germany. You can read her coverage here. To start off March, Todd Neale is in Boston, MA, to attend THT 2026, a meeting focused on device- and technology-based treatments for heart failure.

And finally, the TCTMD journalists will be on-site together in New Orleans, LA, later this month for the American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions. The late-breaking lineup has been announced, so stay tuned for all of our coverage of those trials and studies, as well as other important research from the meeting.