ASPC Congress to Highlight Innovations in CVD Prevention

In advance of this year’s American Society for Preventive Cardiology (ASPC) 2024 Congress on CVD Prevention, we spoke with ASPC President-Elect Michael Shapiro, DO, FASPC, professor of medicine and director of the Center for Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease at Wake Forest University. He will assume the ASPC presidency at this year’s meeting from current president Martha Gulati, MD, MS, FACC, FAHA, FASPC, FESC, professor of cardiology, director of cardiovascular disease prevention, and associate director of the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center, Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute. The meeting will take place August 2-4 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

“I am truly honored to take on the role of president of the American Society for Preventive Cardiology, following the outstanding leadership of Dr Martha Gulati. Given my many years as a preventive cardiologist, and longtime affiliation with the ASPC, I am prepared to lead our society in advancing the agenda for the prevention of cardiovascular disease,” Shapiro told The American Journal of Managed Care^®. “I'm eager to champion innovative strategies that will further empower our members and improve patient outcomes across the spectrum of cardiovascular care. I'm looking forward to working with all of you over the next 2 years.”

Here he also discusses what to look forward to as this year’s meeting, including that it will be the ASPC’s largest meeting to date, with close to 400 attendees and more than 180 abstracts submitted—double the amount from previous years—notable case presentations, and networking opportunities aplenty.

This transcript has been lightly edited.

Transcript

What excites you most about this year's ASPC Congress on CVD Prevention?

The American Society for Preventive Cardiology 2024 Congress on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention promises to be a groundbreaking event packed with insightful sessions led by experts in the field. Sessions will be structured from didactics to debates to case presentations. Attendees will benefit from diverse learning opportunities, networking with peers, and the latest research in optimizing cardiovascular health and preventing cardiovascular disease [CVD], making this congress a must-attend event for anyone committed to prevention.

We are thrilled to open up the Congress this year by honoring 3 awardees: Dr Chris Cannon [MD, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital], Dr Sergio Fazio [PhD, of Regeneron], and Dr Noel Bairey Merz [MD, of Cedars-Sinai]. Each will be presenting an award lecture during the opening session on Friday, August 2. New this year, we'll be discussing lessons learned in the prevention of cardiovascular disease from some of the major national and international population-based cohort studies. We will also have a special roundtable session focused on the future of cardiovascular clinical trials. This will include all key stakeholders, including representatives from the FDA, trialists, and clinical researchers.

Of course, one of our favorite features of the annual scientific sessions are the ASPC debates. We will have 3 debate topics this year. First, Michael Wilkerson [MD, of UC San Diego Health] debating Dan Soffer [MD, of Penn Medicine] on adding colchicine vs aggressive lipid lowering in the reduction of residual cardiovascular disease risk. The second debate will feature Seamus Whelton [MD, MPH, of Johns Hopkins Medicine] vs Matthew Budoff [MD, FASPC, of Harbor-UCLA Medical Center] debating on the role of coronary calcium vs coronary CTA as the imaging modality of choice in refining ASCVD [atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease] risk in primary prevention. And finally, the third debate is the battle of the giants, Vera Bittner [MD, MSPH, of UAB Medicine] vs Roger Blumenthal [MD, FASPC, of Johns Hopkins Medicine], debating about whether or not Lp(a) in primary prevention is actionable today.

Can you provide more details on the abstract presentations?

This year, we have seen an impressive array of research focusing on innovative strategies for cardiovascular disease prevention. Popular topics include the application of big data and understanding cardiovascular disease epidemiology, the evolution of therapies such as the GLP-1s [glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists] for weight management and mitigation of cardiovascular risk, and the use of advanced imaging techniques in early detection of atherosclerosis. All of these discussions offer potential new pathways for evaluation, management, and prevention of cardiovascular disease, significantly impacting how we will approach cardiovascular health in the future.

What would you like to highlight about the early career presentations?

Our early career abstract presentations are a highlight of the Congress, showcasing cutting-edge research from up-and-coming scholars in preventive cardiology. This year, topics range from genomic applications and CVD prevention to innovations in lipid management and risk stratification. These presentations not only represent the future of our field, but also highlight the rich diversity and creativity of the next generation of preventive cardiologists.

What topics will the session on advancing obesity treatment cover?

The session on advancing obesity treatment from bench to bedside will delve into the pioneering advances in GLP-1 therapy; practical aspects of their use, including insurance and clinical applications; and their broader implications for cardiovascular risk management. This discussion is crucial for clinicians looking to enhance their therapeutic strategies and improve patient outcomes in a real-world setting. In this session, Dr Ambarish Pandey [MD, of UT Southwestern Medical Center] will start off talking about the evolution of GLP-1s as a pioneering advance in obesity management. Then Dr Robert Kushner [MD, MS, of Feinberg School of Medicine] will talk about their effectiveness as weight management tools, followed by Dr Petra Zubin Maslov [MD, PhD, of Mount Sinai], who will talk of them really as cardiovascular risk mitigation tools. And finally, Dr Danielle Belardo [MD, FASPC, of Institute of Plant-Based Medicine] bringing it home, talking about the practicalities of GLP therapies from insurance coverage to clinical application.