ALONE-AF: Discontinuing Long-Term Oral Anticoagulation After Successful AFib Ablation
ACCEL Lite: Featured ACCEL Interviews on Exciting CV Research
Release Date: 11/25/2025
VESALIUS-CV Trial: Effect of Evolocumab in Patients at CV Risk without Prior MI or Stroke
ACCEL Lite: Featured ACCEL Interviews on Exciting CV Research
The VESALIUS‑CV trial demonstrated that adding the PCSK9 inhibitor evolocumab to optimized lipid‑lowering therapy significantly reduced the risk of first major cardiovascular events by 25% in high‑risk adults without prior heart attack or stroke and cut the risk of first heart attack by 36%. These results confirm that intensive LDL‑C lowering with evolocumab provides meaningful primary‑prevention benefits in patients with atherosclerosis or diabetes, achieving substantial event reduction over more than four years of...
info_outline
ACCEL Lite: Hypertension Treatment Trials in the Elderly for Brain Health
ACCEL Lite: Featured ACCEL Interviews on Exciting CV Research
Is the evidence convincing that intensive antihypertensive therapy protects brain function and helps prevent dementia? Research increasingly shows that high mid‑life blood pressure is a strong predictor of later cognitive decline. Emerging data further indicate that intensive blood‑pressure lowering can reduce the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia while remaining safe for many older adults. In this interview, Glenn A. Hirsch MD, MHS, FACC and Paul K Whelton, MB, MD, MSc discuss “Hypertension Treatment Trials in the Elderly for Brain...
info_outline
ACCEL Lite: SURPASS-CVOT: Effect of Tirzepatide Versus Dulaglutide on MACE
ACCEL Lite: Featured ACCEL Interviews on Exciting CV Research
In patients with Type 2 diabetes and established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), tirzepatide was non‑inferior to dulaglutide for major cardiovascular events while providing superior kidney protection, lower all‑cause mortality, and greater reductions in HbA1c and body weight. Compared with dulaglutide, a GLP‑1 receptor agonist, tirzepatide demonstrated broader metabolic and clinical benefits. By using dulaglutide as the active comparator rather than a placebo, the trial demonstrated tirzepatide’s strong cardiovascular and metabolic...
info_outline
CAUGHT-CAD: Combining Coronary Calcium Score with Treatment on Plaque Progression in Familial CAD
ACCEL Lite: Featured ACCEL Interviews on Exciting CV Research
Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring provides important prognostic value, particularly for individuals at intermediate risk for coronary artery disease (CAD) or those with a family history of the condition. Incorporating computed tomography calcium scoring into a structured disease‑management program may help prevent the progression of coronary plaque, although this strategy has not yet been evaluated in a randomized trial. In this interview, Allen J. Taylor, MD, FACC and Dr Nitesh Nerlekar, MBBS, PHD discuss the CAUGHT-CAD Randomized Trial: Effects of Combining...
info_outline
AI-Enabled Nationwide Opportunistic Screening of Non-Contrast Chest CT for Death and CV Outcomes
ACCEL Lite: Featured ACCEL Interviews on Exciting CV Research
AI technology transforms routine chest computed tomography (CT) scans by precisely quantifying—rather than simply detecting—key cardiovascular imaging risk factors such as heart calcification, aorta calcification, and fat around the heart. By shifting from binary “yes or no” findings to actual measurement, clinicians can more accurately identify high‑risk patients and intervene earlier to help prevent heart attacks and strokes. Patients with these imaging risk factors who were already using preventive therapies like statins and aspirin showed lower cardiovascular...
info_outline
ACCEL Lite: Should There Be a Reappraisal of Surgical Threshold in Patients with AA Dilation?
ACCEL Lite: Featured ACCEL Interviews on Exciting CV Research
Ascending aortopathy (AA) is typically asymptomatic and often diagnosed incidentally, with surgical aortic replacement recommended once aneurysmal thresholds are reached. Emerging evidence suggests that indexing aortic size to patient height may more accurately identify individuals who could benefit from earlier intervention. For AA patients who do not currently meet guideline-based criteria for surgery, the aim is to assess how height-indexed aortic measurements influence longer‑term clinical outcomes in this population. In this interview, Glenn...
info_outline
Top Takeaways from 2025: Preventive Cardiology with C. Noel Bairey Merz, MD, MACC
ACCEL Lite: Featured ACCEL Interviews on Exciting CV Research
In this interview, C. Noel Bairey Merz MD, MACC and Alison L. Bailey, MD FACC, discuss the Top Preventive Cardiology Takeaways from 2025 including trials clopidogrel versus aspirin, the benefit of vaccines, statin use in pregnancy, and more. Suggested Materials: Valgimigli M, Choi KH, Giacoppo D, et al. Clopidogrel versus aspirin for secondary prevention of coronary artery disease: a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis. Lancet. 2025;406(10508):1091-1102. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(25)01562-4 O’Leary K. Influenza vaccination...
info_outline
Top Takeaways from 2025: EP with DJ Lakkireddy, MBBS, FACC
ACCEL Lite: Featured ACCEL Interviews on Exciting CV Research
In this interview, DJ Lakkireddy, MBBS, FACC and Alison L. Bailey, MD FACC, discuss the Top Electrophysiology Takeaways from 2025 including trials CLOSURE-AF, ALONE-AF, NEMESIS-PFA, and more. Suggested Materials: 1. Verma A, Birnie DH, Jiang C, et al. Antithrombotic Therapy after Successful Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation. N Engl J Med. Published online November 8, 2025. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2509688 2. Landmesser U, Skurk C, Kirchhof P, et al. Catheter-based left atrial appendage CLOSURE in patients with atrial fibrillation...
info_outline
Multimodality Imaging in Inflammatory Cardiomyopathy
ACCEL Lite: Featured ACCEL Interviews on Exciting CV Research
Multimodality imaging plays a pivotal role in evaluating inflammatory cardiomyopathy, particularly when cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is suspected. Symptoms of CS include unexplained high-grade AV block, ventricular arrhythmias, reduced left ventricular function, or regional wall thinning without coronary disease. The best evaluation combines cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for structural and scar assessment with fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) for detecting active inflammation and extracardiac involvement. In...
info_outline
Top Takeaways from 2025: Clinical Cardiology with Allen J. Taylor, MD, FACC
ACCEL Lite: Featured ACCEL Interviews on Exciting CV Research
In this interview, Allen J. Taylor, MD, FACC and Alison L. Bailey, MD FACC, discuss the Top Clinical Cardiology Takeaways from 2025 including trials SCOT-HEART 2, ALONE-AF, Launch-HTN, and more. Suggested Materials: 1. Kim D, Shim J, Choi EK, et al. Long-Term Anticoagulation Discontinuation After Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: The ALONE-AF Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2025;334(14):1246-1254. doi:10.1001/jama.2025.14679 2. Lemesle G, Didier R, Steg PG, et al. Aspirin in Patients with Chronic Coronary Syndrome Receiving...
info_outlineThe ALONE-AF study examined outcomes in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients who remained free of recurrence following catheter ablation. Researchers found that discontinuing oral anticoagulation (OAC) was associated with a lower risk of stroke, systemic embolism, or major bleeding compared to continued OAC. These findings, presented at the ESC Congress 2025, suggest that stopping OAC may offer a safer long-term strategy for select post-ablation AF patients. This could mark a meaningful shift in how clinicians approach anticoagulation management in this population.
In this interview, Dhanunjaya “DJ” Lakkireddy MBBS, FACC and Boyoung Joung, MD, PhD discuss “ALONE-AF: Discontinuing Long-Term Oral Anticoagulation After Successful AFib Ablation”.
SUGGESTED MATERIALS:
-
New data on oral anticoagulation after successful ablation of atrial fibrillation (escardio.org website). 2025. Available at: https://www.escardio.org/The-ESC/Press-Office/Press-releases/New-data-on-oral-anticoagulation-after-successful-ablation-of-atrial-fibrillation#. Accessed 11/9/25.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Subscribe to ACCEL