Highlights from Studies Presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Session 2020: Navigating New Roads in Prevention

Authors

Aliza Hussain
Mahmoud Al Rifai
Dhruv Mahtta
Jing Liu
Vardhmaan Jain
Salim S Virani

Publication Date

1-3-2021

Journal

Current Atherosclerosis Reports

DOI

10.1007/s11883-020-00900-5

PMID

33392871

PMCID

PMC7779087

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

1-3-2021

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Published Open-Access

yes

Keywords

American Heart Association, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Heart Failure, Humans, Renal Insufficiency, Chronic, United States, Cardiovascular prevention, Statins, Polypill, Coronary computed tomography angiography, Sodium-glucose co-transporter inhibitors, Omega-3 fatty acids

Abstract

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW: This review highlights late-breaking science presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Session 2020 that demonstrated advancements in preventative cardiology and introduced novel treatment approaches for the management of chronic kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, and/or heart failure.

RECENT FINDINGS: The studies reviewed include clinical trials that assessed the use of omecamtiv in the treatment of heart failure with reduced heart failure (GALACTIC-HF); effects of sotagliflozin in patients with diabetes and recent heart failure exacerbation; cardiovascular outcomes with the use of omega-3 carboxylic acids in patients with high vascular risk and atherogenic dyslipidemia (STRENGTH) and omega-3 fatty acids in elderly patients with recent myocardial infarction (OMEMI); efficacy and safety of evinacumab in patients with refractory hypercholesterolemia; and the use of coronary computed tomography angiography for the assessment of suspected acute coronary syndrome. In addition, we review the results of the International Polycaps Study (TIPS-3) on the use of a polypill for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in intermediate-risk people. Finally, we discuss the SAMSON trial-a three-arm-N-of-1 trial-to identify the root cause of the symptoms contributing to patient nonadherence to statin therapy. The studies presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Session 2020 represent remarkable contributions in the field of cardiovascular disease and prevention.