Highlights from ESC Congress

Cardiology Today and Healio.com reported live from the European Society of Cardiology Congress from Aug. 25 to 29 in Munich. Among the breaking news presented at this year’s meeting, the most-read articles on Healio include new diet recommendations to reduce mortality and CV risk, two studies on aspirin, data that show no excess CV risk with the weight-loss drug lorcaserin, and more.

See below for the most-read articles on Healio during and immediately after the ESC Congress concluded. Visit the links below to read the full articles and peer perspective.

PURE: Moderate red meat, dairy intake may help reduce mortality risk

A new diet quality tool based on an analysis of more than 218,000 adults worldwide suggests that increased intake of unprocessed red meat, fish and whole fat dairy can reduce risk for all-cause mortality, MI and stroke. Read more

ARRIVE: Aspirin does not reduce initial vascular events in low-to-moderate risk population

In a moderate-risk population with low event rates, aspirin did not significantly reduce initial vascular events.

“The use of aspirin remains a decision that should involve a thoughtful discussion between a clinician and a patient that requires a need to weigh the cardiovascular and cancer benefits against the bleeding risks,” J. Michael Gaziano, MD, MPH, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, said at ESC Congress. Read more

ASCEND: Aspirin, omega 3 supplements fail for primary prevention in diabetes

In a large cohort of patients with diabetes but no prior CVD, aspirin prevented vascular events but caused major bleeding events, and an omega-3 fatty acid supplement did not prevent vascular events, researchers from the ASCEND study reported at the ESC Congress. Read more

No excess CV risk with lorcaserin for weight loss

Treatment with the serotonin receptor agonist lorcaserin yielded sustained weight loss over a median follow-up of 3 years without an excess risk for major adverse CV events in adults with overweight or obesity at high CV risk.

“I do think that providers may be more inclined to prescribe a weight-loss agent that has proven safety for major adverse cardiovascular events,” Erin Bohula, MD, DPhil, from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, told Cardiology Today. “I think that cautious use is good advice for all medications.” Read more

Very high HDL raises risk for MI, death

In a new study, patients with HDL levels greater than 60 mg/dL had a nearly 50% increased risk for all-cause mortality, CV mortality and MI compared with HDL levels of 41 to 60 mg/dL.

These findings challenge the conventional wisdom that higher HDL levels are beneficial for CV health, Marc Allard-Ratick, MD, of Emory University School of Medicine, said at ESC Congress. Read more

Results mixed on rivaroxaban for extended thromboprophylaxis in MARINER

In medically ill patients at risk for venous thromboembolism, rivaroxaban did not improve the composite endpoint of symptomatic VTE or death due to VTE. However, rivaroxaban (Xarelto, Janssen) was superior to placebo in reducing symptomatic VTE alone, and bleeding rates were low. Read more

SCOT-HEART: CTA with standard care reduces CHD death, MI at 5 years

Patients with stable chest pain who underwent CTA with standard care had a significantly lower rate of CHD-related death and nonfatal MI at 5 years compared with standard care alone, according to new data from the SCOT-HEART trial. Read more

MITRA-FR: MitraClip does not change prognosis in HFrEF, mitral regurgitation

In patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction and secondary mitral valve regurgitation, percutaneous mitral valve repair plus medical therapy offered no advantage over medical therapy alone. Read more

CULPRIT-SHOCK: Culprit-only PCI maintains advantage at 1 year for cardiogenic shock, multivessel disease

At 1 year, risk for death or renal replacement therapy was lower among patients with acute MI, cardiogenic shock and multivessel CAD who underwent culprit-lesion-only PCI compared with multivessel PCI. However, the culprit-lesion-only PCI group had more repeat revascularizations and rehospitalizations for HF, and MI was similar in both groups. There was a trend toward lower mortality in the culprit-lesion-only PCI group. Read more