PURPOSE OF REVIEW:To summarize key findings from cardiovascular disease prevention trials at the 2025 American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions.
RECENT FINDINGS:In a phase 2 trial, DR10624, a novel triple agonist, rapidly led to significant reductions in triglycerides and liver fat in patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia (sHTG). The CORE-TIMI 72a and CORE2-TIMI 72b trials showed that olezarsen markedly lowered triglycerides and reduced the risk of acute pancreatitis in patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia. The VESALIUS-CV trial demonstrated that evolocumab significantly lowered first major cardiovascular events in high-risk adults without prior myocardial infarction or stroke. The CORALreef Lipids trial found that the oral Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor enlicitide reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) by over 55%, with sustained lipid-lowering effects at 52 weeks. The CORALreef HeFH trial confirmed similar LDL-C reductions in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, supporting enlicitide as an effective oral alternative to injectable PCSK9 inhibitors. The BETTER-BP trial demonstrated that a lottery-based behavioral economics incentive model did not result in a significant reduction of SBP at 6 months. The GoFresh trial found that home-delivered DASH-style groceries, combined with brief counseling, significantly improved systolic blood pressure and LDL-C levels among Black adults living in food-insecure urban settings. The Healthy Family Program in rural China showed that a low-cost, family-centered intervention meaningfully reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure, with benefits persisting after the program ended. The ELM lifestyle trial showed that a long-term behavioral intervention increased sustained remission of metabolic syndrome while improving multiple cardiometabolic behaviors. Finally, the DECAF trial challenged common assumptions by demonstrating that caffeinated coffee consumption reduced recurrence of atrial fibrillation following cardioversion compared with abstinence. Trials presented at the 2025 AHA Scientific Sessions emphasized new therapeutic, behavioral, and community-based strategies for cardiovascular disease risk reduction. These findings underscore a growing shift toward more effective and accessible approaches to improving cardiovascular health.