European Society of Cardiology News

Europe’s leading stage for breakthroughs in cardiology - happening now. The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) is preparing for an exceptional lineup of congresses across Europe, each advancing cardiovascular science through new discoveries, collaborations, and clinical innovation. From digital transformation in Berlin to electrifying arrhythmia innovations in Paris and heart failure breakthroughs in Barcelona, the coming year will showcase the research and dialogue driving the future of heart health. Journalists from around the world are invited to attend, with exclusive access to the latest scientific data, expert perspectives, and emerging trends shaping cardiovascular medicine. Don't forget to accredit yourself!   Explore the full congress calendar: https://lnkd.in/dxQTnnN2 Upcoming dates: - ESC Digital & AI Summit 2025 – Nov 21–22, Berlin - EACVI 2025 – Dec 11–13, Vienna - EAPCI Summit 2026 - Feb 19-20, Munich - ESC Acute Cardiovascular Care 2026 – Mar 20–21, Lisbon - EHRA 2026 - Apr 12-14, Paris - Frontiers in Cardiovascular Biomedicine 2026 - 17-19 Apr, Leuven - ESC Preventive Cardiology 2026 - Apr 23-25, Ljubljana - Heart Failure 2026 – May 9–12, Barcelona - ACNAP 2026 - Jun 12-13, Sophia Antipolis - ESC Cardio-Oncology 2026 - Jun 19-20, Vienna   #HealthJournalism #PublicHealth #HeartHealth #cvhealth

📢 Save the date! EACH Cardiovascular Health Summit 🗓️ 10–11 December 2025, Brussels With the EU Cardiovascular Health Plan set to be published by the end of this year, there is no better time to gather the cardiovascular health community in Brussels. The EACH Cardiovascular Health Summit will mark a defining moment for cardiovascular health in Europe, taking place as the EU Cardiovascular Health Plan is expected to set a new direction for EU action. It represents the culmination of years of joint advocacy by EACH partners to ensure cardiovascular health is deemed a priority in the EU policy agenda and is backed by robust investment. The event will bring together EU policymakers, EACH partners and their national representatives, people with lived experience of cardiovascular disease (CVD), researchers, and leaders in the cardiovascular field to reflect on progress and shape the next steps for implementation across Europe. The Summit will explore: 💡 Science, research, and innovation ❤️🩹 Insights from people with lived experience of CVD ♀️ Gender differences in cardiovascular disease 🌍 Inequalities and equity in health 🧠 Links between cardiovascular and mental health, and the environment 💶 How investing in cardiovascular health can help keep the EU competitive Stay tuned for more updates as we approach the event! #CVHealthForAll #EACHSummit2025

Sudden cardiac death accounts for an unusually high proportion of deaths among female bodybuilders worldwide, according to new research published today in the European Heart Journal.   The #EHJ study found that women competing professionally face the greatest risk. It also highlighted a concerning number of deaths due to suicide and homicide among female bodybuilders.   This is the first large-scale research to systematically investigate deaths in female competitive bodybuilders, and it was led by Dr Marco Vecchiato:   “In recent years, more and more women have taken up strength training and competitive bodybuilding. Despite this growing participation, most research and media attention have focused almost exclusively on male athletes.”   Read more about this important phenomenon in our latest press release: https://lnkd.in/dWzXkB73   #HealthJournalism #PublicHealth #cvhealth European Society of Cardiology

“Presciently, around 3 weeks after the heart attack, my husband asked me if I was ‘feeling okay?’. Up to that point, I realised I was putting on a facade. Yet in that moment, the extreme level of vulnerability I was experiencing enabled me to recognise and share with him, ‘I’m not the same person anymore’. I truly believed that.   Looking back now, this was an understandable reaction to my situation; in part, I was grieving the perceived life I thought I had lost. My family members were concerned for my physical and mental well-being, but they didn’t know how to navigate this situation. They had been used to me being the rock-solid person who everyone depended on, and now I was crumbling before their eyes.”   Julie Harris shared how her diagnosis of cardiovascular disease led her onto a path many patients walk every day. Mental health challenges represent a significant burden within the cardiovascular disease community, and we are dedicated to driving change. The European Society of Cardiology has recently published the ESC Clinical Consensus Statement on mental health and cardiovascular disease, accompanied by supplementary material that presents real-life patient cases and perspectives from individuals living with cardiovascular conditions, including experiences such as Julie’s:   https://lnkd.in/ddACtyZM   If you recognise yourself in Julie’s story and have your own experience to share, we invite you to join our #ESCPatientForum. Participating in the Forum allows patients to raise issues that matter to them - such as mental health - bringing them to the attention of healthcare professionals and collaborating to improve care: https://lnkd.in/eZ2rHwVz   We remain committed to supporting cardiovascular patients facing mental health challenges. Please reach out to us for more information if needed.   Héctor Bueno #cvhealth #hearthealth #MentalHealth

EU project to uncover connections between cardiovascular disease and mental health   The facts of the relationship between cardiovascular disease (#CVD) and #MentalHealth are undeniable:   -One in three CVD patients experiences depression, and one in two develops it after major cardiac events. -Depression affects over 300 million people worldwide and increases the risk of CVD and mortality by two to three times. -Yet, there remains a long-standing gap in how these conditions are managed together.   The European Union –funded TO_AITION  (EU-ESC multi-partner) project explores the biological mechanisms of inflammation connecting CVD and depression. Using a wide range of biological and analytical techniques, including AI, the project aims to uncover shared causative factors and biomarkers, paving the way for new diagnostic and predictive tools that support prevention, prognosis, and therapy.   Read more in our press release: https://lnkd.in/dN2hqJZe #cvhealth #hearthealth #PublicHealth European Society of Cardiology

Sometimes a cardiovascular disease diagnosis doesn’t just affect the body – it can also take a toll on mental health. At #ESCCongress 2025, the European Society of Cardiology introduced new Guidelines, including the first-ever Clinical Consensus Statement on #MentalHealth and #CVD. This milestone document highlights the two-way relationship between mental health and cardiovascular disease: each increases the risk of the other, and patients experiencing both face significantly worse long-term outcomes. Our Patient Forum member, Richard Mindham, shared his story: "I struggled psychologically following my diagnosis, and there were no obvious or formal routes to getting help. This Consensus Statement should help to change that for future patients. It shows how we can be supported mentally as well as physically and offers a path to complete recovery." Read the brand-new patient version of the CVD and mental health consensus statement here: https://lnkd.in/dxu3YETU 💙 If you’re struggling, please talk to your healthcare provider. Inga Drossart Christi Deaton Héctor Bueno #WorldMentalHealthDay #cvhealth #hearthealth #PublicHealth

The European Society of Cardiology is committed to ensuring the continuity of supply of life-saving medical devices for patients.   For this reason, we are supporting the European Commission’s revision of the Medical Device Regulation by providing recommendations from its clinical community. Among other priorities, we recommend future-proofing the framework by strengthening real-world evidence and data infrastructure, and by establishing a unified EU framework for evidence grading and validation of AI-based medical software.   Importantly, we urge EU institutions to establish Union-wide mechanisms to prevent device shortages and ensure timely, effective responses when they arise.   You can read all our recommendations in our submission to the Call for Evidence here: https://lnkd.in/dYDW94ye Piotr Szymański #cvhealth #hearthealth #PublicHealth #EUHealth

The ESC welcomed the opportunity to share insights from cardiovascular experts and partners like the European Cancer Leagues, the European Cancer Organisation, and the Smoke Free Partnership.   Cancer and cardiovascular disease cause 66% of premature deaths in the EU. While we support the Tobacco Taxation Directive, a stronger revision of the Tobacco Products Directive is essential.   Tobacco use causes over 700,000 deaths and costs the EU €300 billion annually. No nicotine product is safe - all should be taxed equally, including e-cigarettes.

On #WorldHeartDay, whether you call it corazón, 心, herz, cuore, قَلْب, sydän, or cœur, the challenge of cardiovascular disease remains universal.   Now more than ever, we must stay united in the idea that every heartbeat counts.   At the European Society of Cardiology, we are driven by a singular belief: that where you live should not determine whether you live. Our mission goes beyond advancing science - it’s about closing the gaps. Inequities in access, education, and care still lead to millions of preventable deaths each year. The ESC’s role is to ensure that the very best in cardiovascular knowledge and tools reach everyone, everywhere. ❤️   Stay ahead in cardiovascular health - follow us for the latest updates. #cvhealth #HeartHealth #PublicHealth #DontMissABeat

The need for human connection and shared excitement remains at the heart of professional settings, even in the face of pandemics and digital transformation.   For 75 years, we have believed that breakthroughs in cardiovascular care don’t happen in isolation. They are more likely to happen in hallways, over coffee, and in the spontaneous conversations sparked on-site at #ESCCongress. As highlighted in a recent TCTMD article, the return of in-person meetings is reigniting that spark for professionals worldwide.   Professor Tomasz Guzik, Chair of the ESC Congress Programme Committee, underlined that ESC goes beyond simply hosting an event: “What makes the ESC unique is that we bring people into the very moment when the reality of cardiovascular medicine is being shaped. It is not just about learning the results: it is about being part of history as a landmark trial is revealed for the first time.”    Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/drAPA8jc   #cvhealth #hearthealth #PublicHealth Michael O'Riordan European Society of Cardiology