HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EUROPEAN SOCIETY OF CARDIOLOGY CONGRESS
The European Society of Cardiology Congress (ESC) was recently held in Stockholm, Sweden from 28 August to 1 September. In this article find out about the clinical trials presented, read highlights from the congress news and meet the new ESC President.
Clinical trials
Several clinical trials were presented during the congress, including the:
- Apixaban versus Acetylsalicylic Acid to Prevent Strokes (AVERROES) trial
- Alpha Omega trial
- Systolic Heart Failure Treatment with the If Inhibitor Ivabradine Trial (SHIFT)
- Long-term Comparison of Everolimus-eluting and Sirolimus-eluting Stents for Coronary Re-vascularization (LESSON 1) trial
- Randomized Evaluation of Secondary Prevention by Outpatient Nurse Specialists (RESPONSE) trial
Read the abstracts >
Meet the incoming President of ESC: Dr Michel Komajda
Dr Michel Komajda, who formally took up the office of ESC President at the ESC Congress 2010 General Assembly, aims to extend the Society’s educational reach with the development of more distance-learning programmes, localized workshops with an emphasis on specialty training, and enhanced platforms involving ESC National Societies for validation and re-validation in cardiology and its sub-specialties.
Read more about his vision for the future >
Highlights from the ESC Congress News
- Increased risk of acute myocardial infarctions (AMIs) during first days of the ski season
A recent Austrian study, found that most heart attacks in people on ski holidays occur within the first two days. It also found that more than 50% of patients having AMIs while on ski holidays had not been getting the minimum level of physical activity recommended by the ESC before leaving for the holiday. As a result, the investigators recommend that individuals increase their level of physical activity before they start the ski season. Read more >
- Iron and heart failure - Iron deficiency seems independently linked to chronic heart failure (CHF)
“Cardiologists should recognize the importance of routinely assessing and treating iron deficiency in patients with CHF,” noted the President of the Heart Failure Association of the ESC. Piotr Ponikowski, from the University of Wroclaw, Poland, summarized that “Iron deficiency is not necessarily linked with anaemia, and boosting iron levels offers a potential treatment in its own right.” Learn about further study findings >
To learn more, read the ESC’s Congress News and daily reporting >
