All the major medical conferences I was planning to attend this year have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as one door closes, another one opens: a lot of the medical societies are now offering online content. Starting later this week, the Heart Failure Association (HFA) will be doing HFA Discoveries. Here are the topics I am most looking forward to.
Universal Definition Of Heart Failure. This is a cooperative project of the Heart Failure Association, Heart Failure Society of America and Japanese Heart Failure Society. Just like the universal definition of myocardial infarction, this will help us with further research and will clarify how we diagnose, prognosticate and treat.
The VIP-HF Study. Ventricular tachyarrhythmia detection by Implantable loop recording in Patients with HFPEF. I am interested in this because we know that both atrial and ventricular tachyarrhhythmia are more prevalent in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). I would like to know what they found out in heart failure in preserved EF (HFpEF).
Vericiguat Studies. There will be several studies involving HFrEF and HFpEF treated with the oral sGC Stimulator Vericiguat. I am curious as to what the trials will reveal regarding this treatment modality, especially in HFpEF in which we have had very little success. I am also wondering if I can finally learn to pronounce Vericiguat.
More SGLT2i Studies and Discussion. The big story last year was SGLT2 inhibition in HFrEF. It will continue to be a big story as the other SGLT2i studies come in.
Dr. Mic Agbayani 