The cardiology faculty at Severance Cardiovascular Hospital has published four research papers in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

NEJM, a prominent international academic journal published by the Massachusetts Medical Society, is closely watched by medical professionals worldwide when reviewing clinical outcomes for high-complexity patients or the latest academic insights.

Founded in 1812, it shares major research findings that can influence clinical decision-making in patient care. It is widely recognized as one of the most influential journals in the medical field.

Over a span of about nine months, from November 8 of last year to August 29 of this year, the cardiology department at Severance Cardiovascular Hospital published four research papers in NEJM.

In a paper published on November 8 of last year titled "Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Drug-Eluting Stents" (First Authors: Lee Seung-jun, Yu Hee-tae, Lee Yong-joon, Lee Sang-hyeop / Corresponding Authors: Park Hee-nam, Kim Joong-sun), the faculty demonstrated that anticoagulant monotherapy is safer, with fewer side effects such as bleeding, compared to dual therapy combining single antiplatelet agents in atrial fibrillation patients who have undergone stent insertion.

Through the paper "Intensive LDL Cholesterol Targeting in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease", published on March 28 of this year (First Authors: Lee Seung-jun, Lee Yong-joon / Corresponding Authors: Kim Byung-guk), the team concluded that setting a lower target for blood low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol—often called "bad cholesterol"—to 55 mg/dL rather than the conventional 70 mg/dL is effective in reducing the incidence of myocardial infarction and stroke.

In August of this year, two studies were presented at the Annual Congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and World Congress of Cardiology (WCC) held in Munich, Germany.

The paper published on August 28, "Anticoagulation for Atrial Fibrillation with Intermediate Stroke Risk" (First Authors: Kim Dae-hoon, Yu Hee-tae / Corresponding Author: Jung O-young), discussed research findings showing that even atrial fibrillation patients with intermediate stroke risk benefit from taking anticoagulants to reduce complication risks.

The paper published the following day on August 29, "Clopidogrel or Dual Antiplatelet Therapy in High-Ischemic-Risk Patients" (First Authors: Lee Seung-jun, Lee Yong-joon / Corresponding Author: Kim Byung-guk), concluded that patients who have undergone stenting due to narrowed or blocked coronary arteries require "dual antiplatelet therapy," taking aspirin and clopidogrel together after one year.

Lee Sang-hak, Head of Cardiology at Severance Cardiovascular Hospital, stated, "It is an extremely rare case domestically for our cardiology faculty to publish four outstanding papers in NEJM, a globally prestigious journal, in less than a year."

He added, "We will do our utmost to foster a research and clinical environment so that our academic and clinical achievements can continue to be strengthened together."

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