An analysis of national U.S. health and diet data found a strong link between ultra-processed food consumption and cardiovascular disease. Adults whose diets were highest in ultra-processed foods—like sodas, packaged snacks, and processed meats—had a 47% higher risk of heart attack or stroke than those who ate the least, even after adjusting for other factors. The findings underscore ultra-processed foods as a major, preventable driver of heart disease and a pressing public health concern.

A research team led by the Department of Medicine, under the School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), has synergised impacts of worldwide clinical trial data through a series of meta-analyses on GLP‑1 receptor agonists, an emerging cardiometabolic drug, offering in-depth insights into its safety profile and novel therapeutic potential in treating cardiovascular diseases. The study found that there was no definite risk of ischaemic optic neuropathy associated with GLP-1 agonist use in patients with diabetes or heart diseases. It also revealed that cardiac patients with obesity may improve the long-term success rate of curative catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation by adopting various weight-control measures, along with appropriate medication. These findings will help frontline clinicians perform more comprehensive risk‑benefit assessments before prescribing medications.