In this episode, we give a wrap-up of late-breaking clinical science presented at the ESC Congress 2025 in Madrid.

First, David Berg presents the DAPA ACT HF-TIMI 68 trial, reporting on dapagliflozin in patients hospitalized for acute heart failure, along with a meta-analysis of SGLT2 inhibitors in this setting.

Next, Javed Butler highlights results of the VICTOR trial, a large phase 3 study of vericiguat in chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Then, Andre Zimerman discusses the PhysioSync-HF trial, comparing conduction system pacing with biventricular resynchronization therapy in patients with HFrEF.

Finally, Kieran Docherty shares insights from a community-based study on the benefits of early initiation of disease-modifying therapy in suspected heart failure.

Additional information:

Topic 1:

With Gregorio Tersalvi, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN - USA, David Berg, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston - USA and Novi Yanti Sari, Siloam Hospitals Group, Jakarta - Indonesia

Results paper:

Dapagliflozin in Patients Hospitalized for Heart Failure: Primary Results of the DAPA ACT HF-TIMI 68 Randomized Clinical Trial and Meta-Analysis of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors in Patients Hospitalized for Heart Failure

Replay ESC Congress Hot Line: https://esc365.escardio.org/presentation/312142

Circulation. 2025 Aug 29. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.125.076575.

Topic 2:

With Javed Butler, Baylor Scott & White Health, Dallas - USA and Henrike Arfsten, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna - Austria

Results papers:

Vericiguat in patients with chronic heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (VICTOR): a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised, phase 3 trial Lancet. 2025

Replay ESC Congress hotline: https://esc365.escardio.org/presentation/312148 doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(25)01665-4.

Vericiguat for patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction across the risk spectrum: an individual participant data analysis of the VICTORIA and VICTOR trials Lancet. 2025 Aug 29:S0140-6736(25)01682-4. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(25)01682-4.

Topic 3:

With Andre Zimerman, Hospital Moinhos De Vento, Porto Alegre - Brazil and Floran Sahiti, University Hospital of Wurzburg, Wurzburg - Germany

Methods paper:

Conduction system pacing vs biventricular resynchronization in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and left bundle branch block: Rationale and design of the PhysioSync-HF Trial

Am Heart J. 2025 Dec:290:38-45.

Replay ESC Congress: https://esc365.escardio.org/session/50327 doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2025.06.002.

Topic 3:

With Kieran Docherty, University of Glasgow, Glasgow - UK and Jolie Bruno, Inserm UMR-S942, Paris - France

Results paper:

Benefit of early initiation of disease-modifying therapy in community-based patients with suspected heart failure

Eur Heart J. 2025 Aug 29:ehaf675. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf675.

This 2025 HFA Cardio Talk podcast series is supported by Bayer AG in the form of an unrestricted financial support. The discussion has not been influenced in any way by its sponsor.