AHA Scientific Sessions 2019 Daily News - Day 1

1 SCIENTIFIC SESSIONS DAILY NEWS SATURDAY , NOV. 16, 2019 ScientificSessions.org #AHA19 Scientific Sessions at Your Fingertips Stay up to date on all things Scientific Sessions with the mobile app. Search “AHA Conferences” in Google Play or the App Store to download for free. Sponsored by Sanofi Regeneron TOP PICKS from the Program Chair AND Late-Breaking Science schedule 3 Inside Coming Sunday Presidential Session 12:45-2:45 p.m. Main Event I Make time to attend the Conner Presidential Address, “Evidence Matters,” by Robert A. Harrington, MD, FAHA. Murat Sönmez, managing director of the World Economic Forum, and Nancy Brown, AHA CEO, will also be featured. Health Innovation Pavilion schedule 9 Harrington Brown T he American Heart Association is fighting for the country’s young people and against the vaping epidemic by funding millions in new nicotine research, working to strengthen laws and policies nationwide, and exposing the e-cigarette industry’s lies. The effort announced Friday takes on this public health crisis in bold new ways. Understanding vaping dangers With funding of $20 million, the End the Lies Youth Vaping and Nicotine Research Initiative will fund groundbreaking projects that focus on understanding how nicotine impacts young people. “This research project, one of the largest ever funded by the association, will help us answer critical questions about the health consequences of e-cigarette use and nicotine addiction, particularly in youth,” said AHA President Robert A. Harrington, MD, FAHA. The effects on the heart, brain, lungs and blood vessels are not well understood, especially among children and adolescents. The recent spate of vaping-related lung disease and deaths is a tragic validation of this knowledge gap. Priority areas for the research initiative include: • Nicotine’s impact on adolescent brain development, intelligence and learning; • The impact of nicotine and other e-cigarette compounds on the cardiovascular system; • How device types, flavors and other e-cigarette chemicals and byproducts influence addiction; AHA tackles youth vaping crisis with massive new initiative ScientificSessions.org #AHA19 SATURDAY Nov. 16, 2019 November 16-18, 2019 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania DAILY NEWS AHA to recognize DistinguishedScientists The American Heart Association has designated the latest round of Distinguished Scientists, members who have significantly advanced the understanding of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. The 2019 awardees will be honored during the Conner Presidential Session on Sunday — joining the ranks of other eminent professionals. See page 5 for a full list of Distinguished Scientists. See VAPING , page 11 T he American Heart Association, American Lung Association and American Diabetes Association have teamed up to raise awareness about the dangers of influenza for people with chronic health conditions, including heart disease, lung disease and diabetes. The organizations are urging Scientific Sessions attendees to get their flu shots and to advocate for flu immunizations within their practices and health care organizations. Flu vaccination has been associated with lower rates of some cardiac events. “Getting the flu can lead to complications with very serious consequences for people with cardiovascular disease, including hospitalization, increased risk for other major health events such as heart attacks or strokes and death,” said Eduardo Sanchez, MD, MPH, FAAFP, the AHA’s chief medical officer for prevention. During the 2018-19 flu season, 93% of adults hospitalized for the flu reported at least one underlying medical condition that put them at high risk for complications. Yet only 45% were vaccinated during that span. Organizations urge Sessions attendees to support flu vaccinations Photo opp If you’ve ever received an American Heart Association research award, please join us for the annual AHA awardee photo. Participants will receive a special awardee lapel pin. 3:30 p.m. Saturday Grand Hall, in front of the AHA logo (near registration) Sönmez CEO Nancy Brown announced the AHA’s multimillion-dollar program to fund new nicotine research, strengthen laws and policies nationwide, and expose the e-cigarette industry’s lies.