ACCEL Lite: Featured ACCEL Interviews on Exciting CV Research

In the CADENCE proof-of-concept study, sotatercept demonstrated meaningful improvements in pulmonary vascular and cardiac hemodynamics in patients with combined pre‑ and post‑capillary pulmonary hypertension due to HFpEF (CpcPH‑HFpEF). Investigators selected a pulmonary vascular resistance threshold of ≥4 Wood units to enrich patients with a significant pre‑capillary component, where targeting pulmonary vascular disease was most biologically relevant. Given that CpcPH‑HFpEF—including valvular‑associated HFpEF—is underdiagnosed, associated with worse prognosis, and has no approved therapies, these findings suggest potential broader applicability pending further study. 

In this interview, Clyde W. Yancy MD, MACC and Mardi Gomberg-Maitland, MD, MSc, FACC discuss the CADENCE Trial (Efficacy And Safety Of Sotatercept In Combined Post-and Pre-capillary Pulmonary Hypertension Associated With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction).

The ORBITA-CTO trial was a multicenter, randomized, double-blinded study that enrolled 50 patients with symptomatic single-vessel chronic total occlusion (CTO) and no bystander coronary disease. Participants were assigned to either CTO percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or a placebo procedure. The results demonstrated that PCI with angioplasty and stenting led to greater improvement in angina symptoms compared with placebo. These findings provide strong evidence that CTO PCI can effectively reduce anginal pain and improve quality of life for patients with chronic total occlusions.  

In this interview, Allen J. Taylor, MD, FACC and John Davies, MBBS, PhD evaluate the ORBITA-CTO Trial.

The American Heart Association–funded THRIVE Food is Medicine pilot trial demonstrated strong promise in addressing hypertension through produce prescriptions. Participants in the intervention arm with high adherence to the DASH diet experienced an average systolic blood pressure reduction of 13 mmHg, a clinically meaningful improvement. The program showed high acceptability and sustainability potential, with participants asking, "When does Phase 2 start?" By integrating produce prescriptions, personalized dietitian coaching, weekly adaptive messaging, and community resource navigation, THRIVE improved dietary quality, nutrition security, and blood pressure outcomes.
In this episode, Alison L. Bailey, MD, FACC and Bunmi Ogungbe, BSN, MPH, PhD discuss "THRIVE Food is Medicine Pilot Trial: Addressing Hypertension through Produce Prescriptions".

Inflammation has emerged as a critical contributor to the pathogenesis and clinical outcomes of cardiovascular disease (CVD), with growing evidence highlighting the prognostic relevance of residual inflammatory risk. Notably, residual inflammation measured by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) remains a strong predictor of recurrent cardiovascular events, supporting the case for more universal CRP screening. Despite advances such as interleukin‑6–targeted therapies, implementation remains limited, as clinicians are unlikely to treat what they do not routinely measure. Addressing current gaps in inflammatory risk assessment presents both a challenge and an opportunity to better personalize CVD prevention and treatment strategies. 

 In this interview, W. Douglas Weaver MD, MACC and Paul M. Ridker, MD, MPH, FACC discuss Inflammation in CVD: A 2025 ACC Scientific Statement.

Should statin therapy be routinely initiated in middle‑aged adults with at least one atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk factor and LDL‑C levels above 100 mg/dL? Observational data consistently shows that lower LDL-C and non-HDL-C levels are associated with substantially reduced risks of atherosclerotic vascular disease. In the absence of randomized trial data in younger and middle-aged adults with low 10–30‑year risk, the role of additional risk stratification tools—such as hsCRP and coronary artery calcium scoring—becomes critical in guiding individualized decisions about when to begin lipid-lowering pharmacotherapy. 

In this interview, William E. Boden MD, FACC and Roger S. Blumenthal, MD, FACC discuss 'Lower LDL-C for Longer? Defining the Optimal Timing and Intensity of Rx'.