The American Heart Association held its annual Scientific Sessions Nov. 16-18 in Chicago, where healthcare organizations and industry leaders presented the latest research on cardiovascular health.
Notable takeaways from the event include the effect GLP-1 medications have on cardiac patient health and AI innovations changing the imaging landscape.
Here are 10 highlights from the meeting:
- The GLP-1 tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Eli Lilly's Mounjaro, was found to reduce the risk of heart failure by 46% among individuals with obesity.
- In one study, stroke survivors who took GLP-1 or SGLT2 medications had a 74% lower risk of death.
- Coronary artery calcium scores were found to accurately assess cardiovascular risk for both men and women.
- Between 1999 and 2020, obesity-related deaths from heart disease deaths in the U.S. increased by 180%.
- One study found ablation treatment may be better than medication for heart attack survivors who develop an abnormal heartbeat.
- Giving pharmacists feedback on patients’ heart failure medication rates improved care for veterans with heart failure.
- Updates on medications associated with cardiovascular care, including blood thinners and atrial fibrillation, edoxoban and heart valve surgery, spironolactone and heart failure, sacubitril/valsartan and cardiomyopathy for cancer patients, and bumetanide nasal spray and heart failure.
- FDA-approved reconditioned pacemakers worked as well as new devices in a recent study.
- Results from a study of a new AI software that reads echocardiagrams was presented and an AI developer won the AHA's annual Health Tech Competition.
- A study found that lifestyle and risk factor modification significantly improved symptoms of atrial fibrillation but did not improve disease burden or progression.