ICYMI: Highlights From the 2025 ASPC Congress on CVD Prevention

The 2025 American Society for Preventive Cardiology (ASPC) Congress on CVD Prevention featured a diverse set of sessions highlighting both foundational science and rapidly evolving therapeutic strategies in cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention. From debates on hormone therapy to new data on artificial intelligence (AI), digital tools, and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, experts underscored the ways prevention is being reshaped across clinical practice.

Here are the top 5 articles from the 2025 ASPC Congress on CVD Prevention. You can view more of our coverage and interviews from the meeting here.

5. Debate on Use of Hormone Therapy for Preventive Cardiology in Women Encourages Continued Research

A debate at the ASPC Congress explored whether hormone therapy has a role in preventing cardiovascular disease in women, with Leslie Cho, MD, presenting data suggesting potential cardioprotective effects when therapy is started within 10 years of menopause. Martha Gulati, MD, countered that evidence from the Women’s Health Initiative and other trials shows no meaningful cardiovascular benefit and that current guidelines advise against using hormone therapy for prevention. Both experts agreed that more contemporary, well-designed randomized trials are needed to resolve remaining uncertainties, especially as newer formulations and dosing strategies gain popularity.

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4. Pivotal Studies in Cardiac Prevention Highlight Power of Cohorts

The Framingham and Bogalusa cohort studies have generated foundational insights that reshaped preventive cardiology, from identifying major cardiovascular risk factors to demonstrating how early-life exposures drive long-term disease, according to experts at another session. The Framingham study identified several key risk factors—high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, and excess weight—for coronary heart disease and developed the multivariable Framingham risk score. The Bogalusa study revealed how childhood risk factors and social determinants drive early atherosclerosis and long-term cardiovascular events.

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3. Different Forms of AI, Technology Can Be Beneficial in Preventive Cardiology

Generative AI and wearable technologies are already reshaping preventive cardiology, with early evidence showing that language models can answer common prevention questions appropriately 84% of the time and suggesting they can help address gaps such as poor risk stratification, low health literacy, and clinical trial underrepresentation. Presenters emphasized the promise of wearables and mobile tools in improving patient engagement, supporting lifestyle change, and reducing readmissions, but also stressed the need to guard against misinformation, define clear clinical problems before deploying technologies, and train clinicians to balance digital tools with human-centered care.

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2. GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Reduce Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes, Improve Survival

Two real-world propensity-matched analyses using the TriNetX network found that GLP-1 receptor agonists significantly improved cardiovascular outcomes in patients with coronary plaque and in those recovering from STEMI. GLP-1 use was associated with lower rates of major adverse cardiovascular events, myocardial infarction, and hospitalizations in patients with coronary plaque, along with better lipid improvements and higher 1-year event-free survival. Patients recovering from STEMI had lower 30-day readmissions, fewer recurrent myocardial infarctions, reduced inpatient admissions, and improved glycemic and lipid measures with GLP-1s.

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1. Experts Encourage Use of GLP-1s in Cardiovascular Care

Experts highlighted extensive clinical evidence showing that GLP-1 receptor agonists meaningfully reduce major cardiovascular events, improve survival, and offer benefits across weight, glycemic control, and heart failure symptoms. The SOUL, SURPASS, and SUMMIT trials have demonstrated early separation in cardiovascular outcomes, reductions in limb ischemia and mortality, and strong performance compared with existing therapies. Experts urged cardiologists to adopt GLP-1s more broadly in cardiology, beyond diabetes and obesity care.

Read the full article here.