Cape Heart Institute Impact at ESC Heart Failure Congress 2026
The Cape Heart Institute (CHI) made a major scientific impact at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Heart Failure 2026 Congress held from 9-12 May 2026, in Barcelona, Spain. Accompanied by global health advancements from affiliated members, CHI researchers showcased pioneering data specifically aimed at transforming cardiovascular care across Africa and bridging critical continental gaps in international health metrics.
Dr Julia Hahnle delivered the Late-Breaking Trial lecture: THESUS-HF II study, titled "Aetiology, management and outcomes of acute heart failure in 17 African countries" on behalf of the THESUS investigators. Coordinated under the leadership of Principal Investigator Prof. Karen Sliwa and the Pan-African Society of Cardiology (PASCAR), across 17 countries, this registry revealed a critical change in aetiologies. Dr Hahnle also introduced the highly anticipated 6-month outcome data. THESUS-HF II demonstrates that while the heart failure landscape in Africa has evolved, it remains distinct. Although access to guideline-directed medical therapy appears better than anticipated, the outcome remained poor, underscoring the need for further advances, including the context-specific, African-centred strategies to improve care.
Affiliated CHI member Prof. Simon Stewart also commanded the main stage during the prestigious Late-Breaking Trial (LBT) sessions. He presented the latest findings from the National Echo Database of Australia (NEDA), the world’s largest automated echocardiographic registry tracking over one million individuals. These massive, automated models provide crucial insights that can optimize structural care management across resource-constrained healthcare networks globally.
