The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress serves as a platform for the global cardiology community to share groundbreaking research and the latest advancements in the field. At the recently concluded 2023 ESC Congress, numerous studies focused on preventing cardiovascular disease were presented. In a noteworthy article published in Current Atherosclerosis Reports, esteemed cardiologists from The Texas Heart Institute, including Dr. Salim S. Virani, along with Cardiovascular Disease fellows Drs. Colin Hinkamp and Chelsea Meloche, summarized the key findings from ten late-breaking studies unveiled at the congress.

The article highlights the following studies and sheds light on their implications for patient care:

NATURE-PARADOX: This study investigated the long-term effects of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) on cardiovascular health. The findings revealed that individuals with above-average LDL-C levels experienced major cardiovascular events approximately 12 years earlier than those with below-average levels, despite having the same number of events.

Muvalaplin lipoprotein(a) study: The research showed that the drug muvalaplin reduced lipoprotein(a) levels by up to 65% when taken daily in pill form. The drug exhibited rapid action and minimal side effects.

OCEAN(a)-DOSE: This study evaluated the effects of the drug olpasiran on reducing lipoprotein(a) levels. The results indicated that olpasiran reduced lipoprotein(a) levels by as much as 90% in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Notably, higher doses of olpasiran resulted in greater reductions, and the effects were sustained even after the patients discontinued the medication.

ORION-8: In this study, the effectiveness of inclisiran, a novel drug designed to reduce LDL-C levels, was examined. Patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or high risk for it had a sustained 50% reduction in LDL-C levels throughout the three-year study period with biannual dosing of inclisiran. The drug had no significant side effects.

REMAIN-1: This study investigated the efficacy of recaticimab, another LDL-C-lowering drug. Recaticimab led to a rapid reduction of LDL-C levels by approximately 50% within four weeks, which persisted for the study’s duration. The drug also lowered other cholesterol types, including lipoprotein(a), while exhibiting minimal side effects.

CLEAR study: Findings from this study centered on bempedoic acid, a drug targeting LDL-C. Patients on bempedoic acid had a 20% lower risk of major cardiovascular events than patients who received a placebo. The drug proved particularly effective in preventing recurrent events.

LIBerate-HeFH: The study examined patients with a genetic disorder resulting in high LDL-C levels. Monthly injections of lerodalcibep led to a 58% reduction in average LDL-C levels after 24 weeks, accompanied by a decrease in other cholesterol types. Commonly observed side effects included skin reactions at the injection site, noted in approximately 3% of patients.

DANCAVAS: This comprehensive community health study in Danish men aged 65-74 utilized various screening measurements to identify heart and vascular diseases, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. The study showed that the screening and subsequent treatment prevented cardiovascular events in approximately 1 in 38 screened men aged 65-69.

SCORE2-ASIA: Researchers adapted the SCORE2 risk prediction system to assess cardiovascular event risk in individuals from Asia. The results showed that the modified SCORE2 was effective in predicting events in low- to moderate-risk individuals in the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions.

CENTURY: This study compared two approaches for treating chronic coronary artery disease (CAD). The intensive program, which involved lifestyle changes, medication, frequent medical follow-ups, and heart scans, proved to be more effective than the current standard program in lowering the risk of major cardiovascular events over a five-year period.

The outcomes of these studies hold considerable promise for the future of cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment.

 

The article also helps underscore the strong mentoring relationships and collaborative interactions between trainees in the Cardiovascular Disease fellowship and Institute teaching staff. Dr. Virani, who is the Vice Provost for Research and Graduate Studies at Aga Khan University and a member of The Texas Heart Institute Academic Professional Staff, is renowned for his expertise in preventive cardiology and outcomes research.

Keri Sprung, MBA, Vice President for Education at The Institute, explained, “Our trainees benefit substantially from their mentorship from leading physicians like Dr. Virani. These productive collaborations help prepare our fellows to contribute to clinical research and scholarship. We believe that these skills will help them provide better medical care to their own patients and impact the future of cardiovascular care more broadly.”

---

Read the Article

Gupta K, Hinkamp C, Andrews T, Meloche C, Minhas AMK, Slipczuk L, Vaughan E, Habib FZ, Sheikh S, Kalra D, Virani SS. Highlights of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Studies Presented at the 2023 European Society of Cardiology Congress. Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2023 Nov 17. doi: 10.1007/s11883-023-01164-5. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37975955.

---