https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0829-9097
The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) has achieved significant milestones during the mandate from September 2022 to August 2024, guided by the ESC Strategic Plan 2023–28. This period was marked by progress thanks to Board Committees and Task Forces, all contributing to advancing cardiovascular science, education, patient care, and digital innovation. Below are the highlights of ESC’s achievements within the context of the 2023–28 strategic objectives (Figure 1).
Summary of main achievements of ESC Board Committees and Task Forces 2022–2024
A significant achievement of the Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee was the publication of eight full guidelines and one focused update, reinforcing ESC’s leadership in evidence-based recommendations. The integration of patient-reported outcome measures is a major step towards person-centred healthcare. Additionally, the committee ensured inclusivity by launching an open call for Task Force members, promoting transparency in guideline development.
The committee embraced digital health and artificial intelligence, piloting three large language models and two computable guidelines projects. These initiatives supported the ESC’s aim to harness digital tools and big data analytics to enhance precision medicine.
The Publications Committee achieved record impact factors for key journals, such as the European Heart Journal (39.3) and European Journal of Heart Failure (18.2). These accomplishments are a testament to the ESC’s commitment to providing validated information globally.
The introduction of Continuing Medical Education credits for journal reviewers acknowledged their role in scientific progress, aligning with ESC’s focus on enriching membership experiences.
Managing a significant increase in document reviews, with 221 proposals processed, the Scientific Documents Committee streamlined its processes. Harmonized timelines for document development ensured timely dissemination of information, which aligns with ESC’s strategic objective of delivering high-quality research and knowledge.
The Registries Committee enhanced studies on rare diseases and guideline implementation through the new Global Registries And Surveys Programme (GRASP). Three initial GRASP studies, including EuroAspire VI, chronic coronary syndrome, and heart failure, were launched in 2024, with 687 centres from 49 countries having signed up to participate in ESC’s focus on collaborative research and high-quality data collection.
The European Heart Health Institute completed the fourth ESC Atlas of Cardiology, accessible via a new interactive website. The release of the Economic Burden of CVD study across European Union (EU)-27 countries underscored ESC’s commitment to addressing the societal impacts, demographic changes, and inequalities associated with cardiovascular disease. The Cardiovascular Risk Collaboration developed the SCORE2-Diabetes 10-year cardiovascular (CV) risk estimation in Type 2 diabetes, available on the ESC CVD Risk Calculation mobile App.
The Education Committee launched a new E-Learning platform, offering 57 courses to over 2400 learners, contributing to the global expansion of cardiovascular knowledge. The European Examination in Core Cardiology saw a 25% growth in candidates, furthering ESC’s objective of fostering a specialized future workforce in cardiology. The Education Committee and the Academy collaborated to strengthen the overall ESC education programmes, with a renewed commitment to continuing to engage co-created post-graduate courses with selected universities.
The Congress Programme Committee made significant progress in gender balance and patient involvement, key values of ESC’s inclusive and patient-centred approach. New session formats, such as open-forum Q&A, were introduced to foster engagement and dialogue, creating a welcoming and collaborative atmosphere at ESC congresses.
The Patient Forum developed patient-friendly versions of clinical guidelines and integrated patient voices into congress sessions, emphasizing ESC’s commitment to patient-centred care. The European Society of Cardiology’s key strategic aim of placing the patient perspective at the heart of its activities—Advocacy, Education, Cardiovascular Roundtable, Digital Health, and Innovation Think Tank—has made significant progress in the mandate 2022–24.
Recognizing the importance of nurturing future leaders, ESC launched the Young Track on ESC 365 and expanded mentorship opportunities. This initiative engaged young professionals, increasing their visibility and aligning with ESC’s goal to foster talent in cardiovascular medicine.
The Digital Health Committee organized 56 sessions on digital health at the ESC Congress 2024. Collaborations with the European Space Agency and advancements in artificial intelligence and big data analytics positioned ESC as a leader in integrating digital tools into cardiovascular care and research.
The Advocacy Committee successfully made cardiovascular disease a priority during the EU presidency, while the Regulatory Affairs Committee worked with EU regulators to maintain access to life-saving medicines. These achievements illustrate ESC’s proactive influence on policy and dedication to ethical conduct, free from undue influence.
The Task Force on Big Data Analytics made recommendations to advance ESC’s digital transformation via the development of a network of Big Data Collaborating Centres to address large-scale data challenges and Artificial Intelligence education packages to equip healthcare professionals with cutting-edge knowledge and skills.
The ESC Think Tank on Innovation, a newly established group and activity, elaborated various areas of innovative research and clinical development, proposing the initial focus on digital transformation, precision medicine, and systems cardiology. Key recommendations included the creation of an ESC Digital Transformation Unit, which will integrate digital expertise across ESC’s activities.
The Think Tank’s activity directly supports key strategic goals, particularly those related to the future of cardiology and the cardiologist of the future.
The Governance Task Force assessed ESC’s organizational structure, presenting recommendations for improved governance. Financially, ESC achieved a net result of +€1.7 million, showcasing its resilience and adaptability in challenging times.
The DOI Committee worked to simplify and clarify aspects of the ESC declaration of interests form, while increasing transparency with the inclusion of a new question on disclosure of funding from public and not-for-profit organizations. Their priority was to maintain and strengthen transparency and inclusiveness.
The 2022–24 mandate of the ESC, underpinned by its 2023–28 strategic plan, has been a period of significant progress. The collective efforts of Committees, Task Forces, and the Think Tank have solidified ESC’s leadership in cardiovascular medicine, education, and research. A vision for Data Science integrating novel big data collection techniques and AI tools has begun its transformation into reality, establishing the foundation for a more robust, data-driven future in cardiovascular medicine.
The emphasis to prioritize inclusivity, patient-centred care, and digital innovation during this period lays a strong foundation for the future.
With continued efforts, we can ensure that ESC remains at the forefront of the evolving cardiology landscape.
Acknowledgements
Prof. Franz Weidinger would like to thank the entire ESC staff led by the CEO Jean-François Riffaud, and Ghislain Daval (Chief Operating Officer), Aoife Delmas (Chief Development Officer), Nathalie Lefebvre (Chief Financial Officer), and Valentina Tursini (Chief Scientific Officer).
Declarations
Disclosure of Interest
The author declares no conflict of interest for this contribution.
