ACCEL Lite: Featured ACCEL Interviews on Exciting CV Research

Randomized trials in stable ischemic heart disease (SIHD) show revascularization does not reduce death or myocardial infarction versus guideline-directed medical therapy, with benefit limited to symptom relief. This likely reflects lesion–ischemia mismatch, unclear ischemia origin, effective modern medical therapy, and trial design constraints. As a result, a prognostic advantage is difficult to demonstrate in broad SIHD populations. Exceptions where revascularization may improve outcomes include severe left main disease, significant left ventricle dysfunction, large ischemic burden, and refractory angina. 

 
In this interview, Allen J. Taylor MD, FACC and Sanjay Kaul, MBBS examine 'Why Can't We Prove Revascularization Is Better Than Medical Therapy for SIHD?'

ecent advancements in echocardiography since ACC.25 highlight a shift toward greater precision, efficiency, and consistency in cardiac imaging. Standardized echo reporting is now recognized as a key marker of quality care, improving communication and supporting more reliable clinical decisions, while artificial intelligence enhances imaging through automated measurements and diagnostic support. Together, these innovations strengthen echocardiography's foundational role in heart disease management by improving accuracy, consistency, and overall patient outcomes. 

 In this interview, Steven E. Nissen MD, MACC David H. Wiener, MD, FACC discuss practice-changing advancements in echocardiography.

The "Food is Medicine" approach is central to cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention because diet directly shapes key risk factors, making nutrition a powerful, modifiable intervention. Medically tailored meals (MTMs) are fully prepared, condition-specific meals prescribed to meet the clinical needs of patients with chronic disease. Evidence shows that MTMs can improve health outcomes, enhance diet quality, and reduce hospitalizations and costs. Together, prescribing food as part of care highlights a scalable strategy to improve individual health and drive meaningful public health impact. 

 
In this interview, Matthew W. Martinez MD, FACC and Laurence S. Sperling, MD, FACC discuss "Prescribing Meals, Not Just Meds: The Case For Medically Tailored Meals".

The detection of subclinical, or "silent," atrial fibrillation (AFib) has increased substantially with the widespread use of implantable devices (e.g., pacemakers, defibrillators) and consumer wearables such as smartwatches. A key clinical question is the threshold of cumulative AFib burden—such as duration identified on device interrogation—at which anticoagulation should be considered. Additionally, clinicians should consider when consumer wearable rhythm monitoring is appropriate, such as in patients with symptoms or elevated stroke risk. Best practices are needed to guide counseling and management of patients with subclinical AFib, including when to initiate stroke and systemic embolism prevention strategies. 

In this interview, W. Douglas Weaver MD, MACC and Deepak Bhakta, MD, MBA, FACC discuss managing subclinical AFib detected by devices, ambulatory monitors and wearables.

Is tirzepatide associated with a broader reduction in cardiorenal adverse outcomes compared with dulaglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD? The SURPASS-CVOT, the first cardiovascular outcomes trial using an active incretin-based comparator, previously demonstrated that tirzepatide was noninferior to dulaglutide for major adverse cardiovascular events, including CV death, myocardial infarction, and stroke. A current analysis expands these findings by examining a wider spectrum of adverse events to further characterize the comparative cardiorenal effects of tirzepatide. 

 
In this interview, Matthew Martinez, MD, FACC and Steven E. Nissen, MD, MACC examine the SURPASS-CVOT Randomized Clinical Trial.