Letter from the Editor

Dear Colleagues,

Thank you for your interest in this edition of Medicom’s Conference Report covering the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2023, held in Philadelphia, PA. This year’s meeting covered a wide array of topics, from cutting-edge treatments in coronary artery disease (CAD) and peripheral artery disease (PAD) to exciting developments in the management of hypertension and lipid disorders. There were fresh perspectives on atrial fibrillation and sudden cardiac death provided fresh perspectives as well as a host of innovative studies that expanded future opportunities for innovation and improved outcomes.

The MINT trial shed light on transfusion strategies in myocardial infarction with anemia, suggesting that a liberal approach may offer benefits. The ORBITA-2 trial's confirmation of PCI's effectiveness for symptom relief in patients with stable angina opened options for shared decision making. The Jewel IDE trial highlighted the advancements in wearable technology for managing sudden cardiac death risk. In the realm of PAD, the potential of nicotinamide riboside in improving walking function and pemafibrate in reducing microvascular complications opens new hypotheses for testing.

There were insights regarding the effect of edoxaban versus warfarin in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and observations regarding the impact of sodium intake on blood pressure control. The lipid-lowering therapies session, with discussions on innovative treatments like lepodisiran and the potential of gene editing, signals a promising future in managing hypercholesterolemia.

The exciting findings for the safety of Factor XI inhibition with abelacimab brings forward the potential vision of safer anticoagulants. Such opportunities may open doors for other patients with AF which were highlighted such as anticoagulation in subclinical AF.

I hope you find the summaries included informative, balanced, and inspiring as we look forward to great promise in the scientific innovation that will improve outcomes for patients suffering from cardiovascular and cardiometabolic diseases.

Sincerely,

Prof. Marc Bonaca

 

Biography

Marc P. Bonaca, MD, MPH, is a Cardiologist and Vascular Medicine Specialist who serves as the Executive Director of CPC Clinical Research and CPC Community Health at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. He is the Director of Vascular Research and an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the inaugural holder of the William R. Hiatt Endowed Chair in Cardiovascular Research.

Dr Bonaca earned his medical degree from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and his Masters in Public Health at Harvard University. He served as a Medical House Officer at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. After completion of his training, he joined the faculty of the Cardiovascular Division and Vascular Medicine section of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School and became an Investigator at the TIMI Study Group.

Dr Bonaca’s research focus is on ischemic risk in patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease, risk prediction, and risk modification through the use of pharmacologic and biologic therapies. His key areas of interest include patients with peripheral artery disease, polyvascular disease and diabetes with a focus on the breadth of risk including ischemic limb outcomes, microvascular complications and major adverse cardiovascular events.

Conflict of Interest Statement:

Dr Bonaca is the Executive Director of CPC, a non-profit academic research organization affiliated with the University of Colorado, that receives or has received research grant/consulting funding between August 2021 and present from: Abbott Laboratories, Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Alexion Pharma, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Amgen Inc., Angionetics, Inc., Anthos Therapeutics, ARCA Biopharma, Inc., Array BioPharma, Inc., AstraZeneca and Affiliates, Atentiv LLC, Audentes Therapeutics, Inc., Bayer and Affiliates, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Better Therapeutics, Inc., Boston Clinical Research Institute, Bristol-Meyers Squibb Company, Cambrian Biopharma, Inc., Cardiol Therapeutics Inc., CellResearch Corp., Cleerly Inc., Cook Regentec LLC, CSL Behring LLC, Eidos Therapeutics, Inc., EP Trading Co. Ltd., EPG Communication Holdings Ltd., Epizon Pharma, Inc., Esperion Therapeutics, Inc., Everly Well, Inc., Exicon Consulting Pvt. Ltd., Faraday Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Foresee Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., Fortress Biotech, Inc., HDL Therapeutics Inc., HeartFlow Inc., Hummingbird Bioscience, Insmed Inc., Ionis Pharmaceuticals, IQVIA Inc., Janssen and Affiliates, Kowa Research Institute, Inc., Kyushu University, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Medimmune Ltd., Medpace, Merck & Affiliates, Nectero Medical Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp., Novo Nordisk, Inc., Osiris Therapeutics Inc., Pfizer Inc., PhaseBio Pharmaceuticals, Inc., PPD Development, LP, Prairie Education and Research Cooperative, Prothena Biosciences Limited, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Regio Biosciences, Inc., Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City, Sanifit Therapeutics S.A., Sanofi-Aventis Groupe, Silence Therapeutics PLC, Smith & Nephew plc, Stanford Center for Clinical Research, Stealth BioTherapeutics Inc., State of Colorado CCPD Grant, The Brigham & Women's Hospital, Inc., The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Thrombosis Research Institute, University of Colorado, University of Pittsburgh, VarmX, Virta Health Corporation, Worldwide Clinical Trials Inc., WraSer, LLC, and Yale Cardiovascular Research Group.

Dr. Bonaca receives support from the AHA SFRN under award numbers 18SFRN3390085 (BWH-DH SFRN Center) and 18SFRN33960262 (BWH-DH Clinical Project).



Posted on 29 January, 20245 February, 2024