Sophia Antipolis, 12 June 2014. The world's greatest event in cardiology, ESC Congress 2014, will take place in Barcelona, Spain, from 30 August to 3 September, and as ever promises journalists a rich source of front-page news and feature background.
This year's event has attracted record submissions for both the new study abstract and late-breaking Hot Line sessions, which, says Professor Keith Fox, Chair of the Congress Programme Committee, will ensure another year of high quality presentations reflecting this year's congress spotlight, "innovation and the heart".
ESC Congress 2014 will take place at the
Fira Gran Via congress centre
Barcelona, Spain
from 30 August to 3 September
Journalists planning to attend are invited to register here
Registering online will enable you to use the “Fast Track” registration line on-site
ESC Congress 2014 is expected to bring more than 30,000 registered participants (as well as 500-700 registered press) to Barcelona, making it the largest medical meeting in the world, and a guaranteed source of important news stories. In cardiology, says Professor Fox, the ESC Congress has indisputably become the number one international event, reflected in the high number of submissions from non-European countries and in participant registrations.
This year's congress will feature:
- Five days of scientific sessions
- More than 4500 presentations of new studies selected from 11,444 abstracts submitted
- 27 Hot Line presentations, in five dedicated sessions featuring the first results from major clinical trials
- Updates from earlier landmark trials
- 200 exhibiting companies and 70 sponsored sessions
Please note that the first Hot Line press conference will take place on Saturday 30 August at 13:00 hours this year.
Clinical Trial Updates will be covered in a dedicated press conference on Monday 1 September 13:00 hours
Press support in Barcelona will be concentrated on 11 press conferences (from Saturday to Tuesday), including late-breaking results of clinical trials selected for Hot Line sessions from Saturday 30 August through to Tuesday 2 September. These are studies (many of which are published simultaneously in leading medical journals) whose outcomes will shape the treatment of cardiovascular disease in the years to come, and which traditionally provide front-page news across the world. This year, Hot Line sessions will feature results from major trials in five sessions:
- CVD and novel therapies
- CHD and lipids
- Devices and interventions in heart failure
- Myocardial infarction
- Atrial fibrillation
A total of 237 abstracts were submitted for Hot Line selection, another record for this year's congress.Included among this year's Hot Lines are full results from the following trials:
- PARADIGM-HF, stopped early because of overwhelming patient benefit and the largest ever trial in heart failure
- NECTAR-HF, on vagal nerve stimulation in heart failure
- SOLID-TIMI 52, on the selective lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 inhibitor darapladib in acute coronary syndromes
- SIGNIFY, on lowering heart rate in stable coronary artery disease without heart failure
- COPPS-2, on colchicine given postoperatively to prevent atrial fibrillation
- ODYSSEY COMBO II, on LDL cholesterol lowering
- ATLANTIC, on the ambulance or cath lab in primary PCI
The press conference programme will also feature new developments derived from other studies submitted as abstracts and collected under themed headings:
- Innovations in cardiology
- Overweight under pressure
- Atrial fibrillation and the risk of stroke
- "Too young to die" (on treatments in the elderly)
Press releases in support of the press conferences will be issued under embargo* a few days in advance. Accredited journalists can also make use of a well serviced press room, with wi-fi and work space available. Catering will be provided throughout the day.
Professor Fox describes this year's programme as
"the largest and strongest ever", full of high quality submissions and a guaranteed source of news stories.
Good reason to mark the dates in your diary, or contact the ESC press office for further information.
Our mission: To reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease.