The American Heart Association (AHA) will kick off its 2014 scientific sessions this weekend in Chicago. The lineup of clinical trials is intriguing.
General sessions start Saturday with a focus on early career topics, among other options. The late-breaking clinical trials get under way on Sunday, with each day themed.
Sunday should be an eye-opener, with researchers sharing results from studies looking at dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). The four trials on the docket are:
- Increased Risk of Ischemic Events Upon Discontinuation of Prasugrel After 12 or 30 Months of Therapy Following Placement of the Taxus Liberté Paclitaxel- Eluting Coronary Stent
- Randomized, Double Blind Trial of Six vs. 12 Months Of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy After DES-Implantation (ISAR-SAFE)
- Is Six Months DAPT Post Coronary Stenting Noninferior to 24 Months? The Italic/ Italic+ Randomized Trial. Results of the One-year Primary Endpoint
- Risk and Benefit of Prolonged Dual Antiplatelet Therapy after Drug-eluting Coronary Stents: Primary Endpoint Results from the Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Study
Monday’s late-breakers focus on anti-lipid therapy and the prevention of coronary artery disease. The therapies include low-dose aspirin and statins, but imaging modalities also get their due.
- Low-Dose Aspirin for Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Events in Elderly Patients with Multiple Atherosclerotic Risk Factors: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- Screening For Asymptomatic Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease among High-Risk Diabetic Patients Using Coronary CT Angiography: Primary Results of FACTOR-64, a Randomized Controlled Trial
- ODYSSEY ALTERNATIVE: Efficacy and Safety of the Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/kexin Type 9 Monoclonal Antibody, Alirocumab, vs. Ezetimibe, in Patients with Statin Intolerance as Defined by a Placebo Run-in and Statin Rechallenge Arm
- IMPROVE-IT Trial: A Comparison of Ezetimibe/Simvastatin vs. Simvastatin Monotherapy on Cardiovascular Outcomes after Acute Coronary Syndromes
Tuesday’s theme is structural heart disease.
- Randomized Trial of Atenolol vs. Losartan in Children and Young Adults with Marfan Syndrome
- A Randomized Trial of Losartan in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy - The INHERIT Trial
- The Incidence of Infective Endocarditis in England Is Increasing - An Assessment of the Impact of Cessation of Antibiotic Prophylaxis Using Population Statistics
- The Surgical Treatment of Moderate Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation: A Randomized Clinical Trial from The Cardiothoracic Surgical Trials Network
Wednesday, the last day for trials, puts ischemic heart disease on center stage.
- Long-term Outcome of Biodegradable Compared to Durable Polymer Drug-eluting Stents and Bare Metal Stents - Main Results of a Prospective Randomized Trial
- Primary Outcomes of the EVOLVE II Trial: A Prospective Randomized Investigation of a Novel Bioabsorbable Polymer-Coated, Everolimus-Eluting Coronary Stent
- A Randomized Controlled Trial of Oxygen Therapy in Acute St-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: The Air Versus Oxygen in Myocardial Infarction (AVOID) Study
- Developing Regional STEMI Systems of Care: Final Results of the Mission: Lifeline STEMI ACCELERATOR Study
The conference planners made DAPT and bioresorbable technologies bookends to the event, a move that likely will keep the diverse cardiovascular community buzzing. We will find out soon which of these trials rank as game changers. Stay tuned.
Candace Stuart
Editor, Cardiovascular Business