Therapeutic innovation took center stage as the latest cardiology news and research was presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2025, held Nov. 7-10 in New Orleans.
From polypills to vitamin D and even diagnostic MRI, here are five cardiovascular medicine insights to know from the conference:
- When combined with statin therapy, alirocumab — a PCSK9 inhibitor cholesterol medication — appeared to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels by more than 50% among patients after a heart transplant.
- A clinical trial for a different PCSK9 inhibitor, evolocumab, found the medication reduced coronary heart disease, death, heart attack or ischemic stroke risk by 25% among adults with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or diabetes and no history of a prior heart attack or stroke.
- A polypill combining three heart failure medications taken once daily for six months was found to improve heart function, heart symptoms, quality of life, hospitalization and medication adherence rates among patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction, compared to patients who took the medications separately.
- Using cardiac stress MRI testing to measure blood flow around the heart appeared to improve angina diagnosis and quality of life for patients with chest pain whose coronary angiogram is clear.
- A program of tailored and monitored doses of vitamin D was found to reduce risk of heart attack by 52% among adults with heart disease who had a previous heart attack.
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