ACCEL Lite: Featured ACCEL Interviews on Exciting CV Research

The future of cardiovascular health depends on prevention that begins early in life. This episode reviews strategies for recognizing cardiovascular risk at an early stage and implementing interventions that can alter the trajectory of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease before complications occur. 

 
In this interview, Allen J. Taylor, MD, FACC and Michael J. Blaha MD, MPH discuss Primordial Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) in Young.

Cardiovascular protection during cancer treatment is critical to help prevent complications such as heart failure. Patients should be educated on risk factors, symptom awareness, and heart-healthy behaviors. Oncologists should incorporate cardiovascular risk assessment and surveillance into treatment planning, while general cardiologists should understand the potential cardiotoxic effects of cancer therapies and partner closely with oncology teams to support long-term patient health. 

 
In this interview, Dipti Itchhaporia MD, MACC and Ana Barac, MD, PhD, FACC discuss Umbrella: Cardioprotection During Treatment.

Nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) represents one of the greatest areas of unmet need in HCM management. A key question is identifying the primary driver of symptoms in these patients, as many experience significant functional limitations despite the absence of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Understanding the rate and mechanisms of heart failure progression in nonobstructive HCM is also critical, given the substantial morbidity associated with the disease. As a result, there is strong interest in novel therapies that may address underlying disease pathology and improve long-term patient outcomes. 

 
In this interview, Matthew Martinez, MD, FACC and Martin Maron, MD examine treatment for nonobstructive HCM.

The VESALIUS-CV trial demonstrated that the PCSK9 inhibitor evolocumab significantly reduced the risk of a first major cardiovascular event in patients with diabetes who had no known significant atherosclerosis. These findings challenge current clinical practice, where PCSK9 inhibitors are typically reserved for secondary prevention in patients with prior heart attack or stroke. Importantly, the results support earlier, more proactive lipid-lowering intervention, showing benefit even before overt atherosclerotic disease is evident. This paradigm shift underscores the opportunity to intensify preventive strategies and reduce cardiovascular risk earlier in high-risk populations. 

 
In this interview, Nanette Kass Wenger MD, MACC and Nicholas Marston, MD discuss the VESALIUS-CV Trial.

Randomized trials in stable ischemic heart disease (SIHD) show revascularization does not reduce death or myocardial infarction versus guideline-directed medical therapy, with benefit limited to symptom relief. This likely reflects lesion–ischemia mismatch, unclear ischemia origin, effective modern medical therapy, and trial design constraints. As a result, a prognostic advantage is difficult to demonstrate in broad SIHD populations. Exceptions where revascularization may improve outcomes include severe left main disease, significant left ventricle dysfunction, large ischemic burden, and refractory angina. 

 
In this interview, Allen J. Taylor MD, FACC and Sanjay Kaul, MBBS examine 'Why Can't We Prove Revascularization Is Better Than Medical Therapy for SIHD?'