The first half of 2024 is now a wrap, and it was another big one in cardiology. Here are some of Cardiac Wire’s top six storylines from the last six months, plus some things to keep in mind as we head into 2024’s second half:
- A Sick World – Over the course of H1 we’ve learned that 90% of US adults are at risk of developing cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome, artificial sweeteners that we consume every day are associated with increased CVD risks, many patients might have microplastics embedded in their plaque, and the number of Americans with CVD will surge by 60% during the next 25 years. Yikes.
- TR Options – H1 brought the FDA approvals of Edwards’ EVOQUE transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement system and Abbott’s TriClip tricuspid edge-to-edge repair (TEER) system, giving US interventionalists the options to repair or replace the tricuspid valve for the first time. That’s a big change after years of only having surgical TR options, and it appears that more interventional TR devices are on the horizon.
- GLP-1s are for CVD too – So far this year GLP-1s have gone from a weight loss and diabetes drug that “might” have cardiovascular benefits to becoming an FDA-approved and Medicare-covered option for CV event reduction. GLP-1s’ cardiovascular impact is likely to continue to expand, given growing evidence that it also improves HF symptoms.
- Pulsed Field Awakening – Pulsed field ablation was the clear electrophysiology highlight of 2024 so far, after dominating conversations at HRS 2024, producing mounting evidence of its advantages, and scoring its first FDA approval.
- AI Impact – Cardiology might not be the first specialty that comes to mind when discussing healthcare AI, but cardiovascular AI products are seeing major product, reimbursement, and adoption progress this year. We’re also seeing AI play a greater role at cardiovascular conferences, and a steady expansion of cardiovascular AI products beyond imaging and ECG modalities.
- Long-Lasting Treatments – The fact that patients aren’t very good at daily pill adherence drove a big H1 focus on long-lasting and always-on therapies, including the early expansion of renal denervation, more progress with long-term injections, and continued gene editing explorations.
