The Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) is to launch a new international journal focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of structural heart disease and the importance of the heart team in managing these disorders. A CRF press release reports that the first issue of Structural Heart: The Journal of the Heart Team will be published in late spring 2017 with submissions opening in early 2017.
According to the press release, the new journal will feature peer-reviewed clinical and experimental reports that focus on valvular heart disease, disorders related to the left atrial appendage, myocardial disease, congenital heart disease, and more. It will also cover topics such as natural history and prognosis, diagnostic techniques and imaging, drug treatment, transcatheter interventions, mechanical support, cardiac surgery, and clinical trials. Regular features will include original research, clinical reviews and updates, highlights from symposia, editorial commentary, and letters. Furthermore, Structural Heart: The Journal of the Heart Team will publish consensus documents and white papers with recommendations on current topics in cardiovascular disease.
Anthony N DeMaria (Judith and Jack White Chair in Cardiology and founding director, the Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center, University of California, San Diego, USA) will serve as editor-in-chief of the journal. He comments: “Research and treatments for structural heart disease have grown dramatically in recent years. For so long, our focus was on atherosclerosis and disease of the blood vessels. Among an ageing population, structural heart disease has become significantly more prevalent and critical to treat for healthcare professionals. This is an important opportunity as there is no other medical journal focused on this topic.”
“Our new journal will focus on the importance of the heart team in treating structural heart disease. By providing all members of the heart team with the latest research and information in this area, we hope to impact clinical practice and patient care,” says deputy editor of the journal Ori Ben-Yehud (executive director, CRF Clinical Trials Center, USA).
