Sophia Antipolis, 4 September 2024: Some 32,000 health professionals from 171 countries attended the event in London, which covered all the fields of cardiovascular medicine. The spotlight of this year’s congress was “Personalising Cardiovascular Care”.

In addition to the presentation of four major ESC Clinical Practice Guidelines and a new consensus paper on obesity, ESC Congress 2024 had a record number of abstract and late-breaking science submissions . Novel research was revealed in more than 4,400 abstracts, with China, the United States and Japan leading the way with the most abstracts. Practice-changing research was presented throughout the congress, with major new findings in the 12 Hot Line sessions. Some 112 studies were simultaneously published in prestigious journals.

“A total of 117 countries contributed to the abstract submissions, with five of the top ten countries being outside of Europe. This highlights the truly international nature of the congress,” said Professor John McMurray, ESC Congress Programme Chair 2022-2024.

The ESC guidelines, covering cover atrial fibrillation, elevated blood pressure and hypertension, chronic coronary syndromes and peripheral arterial & aortic diseases, will influence clinical practice across Europe and beyond. 

“For me, the highlights of this congress are those that are changing our practice. That is why I recommend people review the guidelines, as there are several new recommendations or changes to existing ones. For example, in the hypertension guideline, we have a new systolic BP target of 120 to 129 mm Hg. In the chronic coronary syndrome guidelines, there is an entirely new algorithm for doctors to use when evaluating patients with suspected obstructive coronary artery disease,” said Professor Carlos Aguiar, ESC Vice-President .

ESC Congress 2024 received widespread international media attention. Trending topics included:

• Catching up on sleep on weekends may lower heart disease risk by up to 20% (Poster)

• Vutrisiran offers a new lifeline to patients with progressive heart condition (HELIOS-B, Hot Line 1)

• Quitting smoking nearly halves heart attack risk, cutting down does little (Poster)

• Finerenone improves outcomes in a common type of heart failure (FINEARTS-HF, Hot Line 7)

• Timing of dosing of blood-pressure medication makes no difference (Meta analysis from BedMed and BedMed Frail, Hot Line 2)

ESC Congress 2024 also marked the beginning of the new presidential mandate. For the next two years, the European Society of Cardiology will be led by Professor Thomas F. Lüscher.

“A highlight for me next year will be ESC Congress 2025 - not only will we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the ESC, but the congress will also be held in conjunction with the World Congress of Cardiology,” newly appointed ESC President Thomas F. Lüscher said.

ESC Congress 2025 will be held in Madrid, Spain from August 29 to September 1.

ENDS