A Great ESC Congress 2026

PhD fellow Aisteja Selmyte-Besuspare presented exciting findings on how menopause affects the development of organ damage in the heart and aorta. 

In another session, postdoctoral researcher Ester Kringeland shared findings on the association between blood pressure in the forties and the risk of cardiac organ damage in older women and men. Both sessions were followed by engaging discussions, highlighting the strong interest in better understanding the development of heart disease in women.

Kringeland also presented the 2026 ESC Guidelines for the management of heart failure during Norsk Aften, to a packed room of Norwegian cardiologists. The new guidelines place greater emphasis on prevention and early treatment of heart failure, including effective management of hypertension and cardiac organ damage. This increased focus represents an important step towards better prevention and treatment of heart disease in women.

In an inspiring session, Eva Gerdts presented the Center for Research on Cardiac Disease in Women. With invaluable support from the Grieg Foundation, Bergen Sanitetsforening, the Norwegian Women’s Public Health Association, and the Heart Foundation, we are proud of all we have achieved since the Center was established in 2020. Gerdts also contributed to a session on the prevention of cardiovascular disease in children and young people, where she delivered an excellent presentation on hypertension in this age group.