What we learned at the world's biggest heart conference
Over four days of the August bank holiday weekend, the brightest minds came together in Munich to share their research and discuss the latest medical developments at the world’s largest cardiology conference.
Our researchers were at the forefront of some of the most exciting scientific breakthroughs from the conference. Here's a look back at the discoveries, innovations and award-winning research that made this year's ESC Congress such a wunderbar event.
New heart attack definition promises better care for women
The conference kicked off with the announcement that the world’s four major cardiac societies have agreed a new definition for heart attacks. Less common types of heart attack, which more often affect women, are now in a ‘primary’ heart attack category, and doctors are being encouraged to perform angiograms for patients who have had suspected heart attacks, to ensure these less common types are diagnosed.
Our Chief Scientific and Medical Officer, Professor Bryan Williams, hailed the “landmark moment” and BHF Professor Nicholas Mills, who led the taskforce behind the new guidelines, told media: “It is a revolution and it’s going to make care better for patients.”
Breast cancer survivors may not need heart drugs for life
Further improvements in women’s healthcare could follow the results of the HER-SAFE trial, led by University College London, which found it was safe to stop heart medication for breast cancer survivors who had recovered from heart problems caused by their cancer treatment. Among 90 women with a type of breast cancer called HER-2 positive breast cancer, 98 per cent who stopped taking their medication had no change in their heart function after a year.
Our Clinical Director, Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, said: “More research is needed, and the women will be followed up for longer, but in the meantime, the good news for this group of breast cancer survivors is lifelong medications after heart complications need not be the default.”
Professor Fu Siong Ng, from Imperial College London, who was involved in the research to develop AI-powered ECGs
'Superhuman' AI takes less than two seconds to find hidden heart disease
The conference also saw new developments in artificial intelligence (AI), including a study led by Imperial College London showing that AI could find signs of structural heart problems in a routine ECG - one of the most common tests in medicine. ECGs often contain far more information than the human eye can typically see. The AI was able to identify up to 81 per cent of patients who had heart failure, and up to 90 per cent of patients with a common type of heart valve disease.
Dr Babu-Narayan said "Technology like the AI ECG in this research, which has the potential to identify high-risk patients early, will not detect everyone with a heart condition. But it could be a solution to help fast-track the patients who are most likely to have a heart abnormality."
Most people who miss NHS Health Checks are in their forties, according to large-scale study
A study led by Imperial College London found that people who did not attend an NHS Health Check had a 31 per cent higher risk of dying early, from any cause, and a nine per cent higher risk of experiencing a non-fatal heart attack or stroke for the first time, compared to those who attended their check-up. The study of almost one million people in North West London found people in their forties made up three-quarters of those who did not attend their NHS Health Check.Professor Williams said "Many people in their forties are juggling busy lives, while others may wrongly assume that heart disease is something that only affects older people. We need to make it easier for people to attend these checks, because spotting problems early can save lives."
Two-week monitor identifies life-threatening heart conditions for people with unexplained fainting
In a study led by the University of Edinburgh, researchers found that fitting a wearable heart monitor for 14 days when patients attended A&E with unexplained fainting improved detection of life-threatening heart problems. The device, which is about the size of a car key fob, more than doubled the detection rate of heart rhythm problems, and improved the number of patients getting treated as a result.
Professor Williams said “The results of this trial should certainly help inform future clinical practice when treating patients with sudden unexplained collapse in the future.”
People who could benefit from blood pressure medication may be missing out on treatment
A large analysis led by the University of Oxford suggests that people could benefit from blood pressure-lowering treatment even if their heart disease risk is only slightly raised. The researchers found that every 5mmHg reduction in systolic blood pressure (the top, higher number in a blood pressure reading) was linked to a 10 per cent lower risk of heart disease and strokes in the next four years. Lower odds of having a heart attack or stroke were seen in people at all levels of cardiovascular risk.
Professor Williams said “The study suggests the levels at which we start treating blood pressure are too high and that many more patients could benefit from treatment of their blood pressure to better prevent premature disease and death, even at blood pressure levels lower than those currently recommended for treatment.”
No benefit of heart CT scan in patients with acute chest pain
A trial led by the University of Edinburgh suggested that heart CT scans may not be necessary for certain patients. The researchers found that, for people with chest pain who had a heart attack ruled out in a hospital emergency department, having a coronary CT angiography (CTCA) scan did not reduce their risk of a heart attack, heart failure or cardiac death three years later.Dr Babu-Narayan said “These findings demonstrate why high-quality clinical trials are required to answer important questions about patient care. Nevertheless, the message for the public remains unchanged. Chest pain is a medical emergency, and you should call for an ambulance if you experience chest pain or discomfort that comes on suddenly and doesn’t go away.”