Reflections from AHA Scientific Sessions 2023 on Navigating the Future of Cardiac Care

By Udo Hoffmann MD MPH , Chief Scientific Officer of Cleerly

As we reflect on our experience at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2023 in Philadelphia, the Cleerly team and I were inspired by the promising outlook for cardiac research. We are particularly excited about the groundbreaking TRANSFORM trial , which Cleerly is proud to sponsor, and its potential to shape the future of cardiovascular care.

This trial represents a significant step forward in our field, leveraging the latest advancements in drug therapies and AI technology to improve patient outcomes by evaluating personalized heart disease care strategies and studying actual disease, atherosclerosis. The trial will screen patients for heart disease, coupled with disease staging and risk stratification. The reception of the TRANSFORM trial at AHA was overwhelmingly positive, with clear interest from both academic and clinical attendees in future study results. As Cleerly and our partners move forward with TRANSFORM, we are excited to continue recruiting clinical sites, enrolling patients and collecting meaningful data that shows the best strategies for the prevention, identification, and treatment of heart disease.?

While on the ground at AHA, I heard many discussions on the potential of leveraging AI technology in cardiac research and in the way we care for patients’ heart health. The future of cardiac care and treatment, as I see it, lies in the potential of AI and other technologies. While we continue bringing AI into heart care practices, we must address the challenges that come with it, including the safe and equitable implementation of AI. This can be accomplished in part through building diverse clinical trials that utilize AI, and by showing the heart health industry – through scientific evidence leading to regulatory approvals –? the effectiveness of the latest technological advancements for patient care.?

However, positioning AI as standard practice for how we manage disease will be an ongoing challenge, not just in cardiac care, but in medicine in general. Financial incentives and changes in guidelines will play a crucial role in this transition as AI is implemented into current practices and care strategies. Ensuring that reimbursement models align with these new methods of care is vital if we are to change the way patients are treated.?

One clear takeaway from AHA was significant evidence for new drug therapies that may better manage and prevent cardiovascular disease. For example, initial trial results are showing that glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) drugs can reduce cardiovascular risk, like in the SELECT trial. These drugs, along with others that reduce weight, can improve glycemic control and lower lipids – factors? commonly connected with heart disease.

I’m proud to see our heart health industry embracing the idea that we must shift away from treating patient symptoms to treating actual heart disease, and moving away from treatment and towards prevention. This shift aligns with our approach for the TRANSFORM trial, in which we aim to leverage the latest therapies and technologies to treat patients’ heart disease most effectively and to prevent events before they occur with groundbreaking drug treatment and effective behavioral interventions. We are moving away from stress testing and other less effective practices, focusing instead on actual disease analysis strategies centered around prevention and screening, which address the root causes of cardiac issues.?

The potential for innovation in the cardiac industry is immense. By fully utilizing tools like cardiac CT and embracing the use of AI for both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients, we can significantly improve patient outcomes. The TRANSFORM trial is a testament to this potential and the importance of disease screening coupled with disease staging and risk stratification, and I look forward to the impact it will have on the future of heart health prevention and treatment.?

My congratulations to the American Heart Association and my industry colleagues on another successful Scientific Sessions. Our Cleerly team left the meeting re-energized as we continue our mission toward a heart attack-free world.