Gaps in evidence in recent cardiovascular guidelines: uncertainties in chronic coronary syndrome

Abstract

The clinical guidelines, while representing an objective reference to perform correct therapeutic choices, contain grey zones, where the recommendations are not supported by solid evidence. In the fifth National Congress Grey Zones held in Bergamo in June 2022, an attempt was made to highlight some of the main grey zones in Cardiology and, through a comparison between experts, to draw shared conclusions that can illuminate our clinical practice. This manuscript contains the statements of the symposium concerning the controversies regarding ischemic cardiomyopathy. The manuscript represents the organization of the meeting, with an initial review of the current guidelines on this topic, followed by an expert presentation of pros (White) and cons (Black) related to the identified "gaps of evidence". For every issue is then reported the "response" derived from the votes of the experts and the public, the discussion and, finally, the highlights, which are intended as practical take home messages to be used in the everyday clinical practice. The first gap in evidence discussed regards the validity of the indication to search for ischemia in light of the data from the ISCHEMIA trial. The second examines the possibility of modifying the algorithm proposed by the European guidelines on anti-ischemic therapy in chronic coronary syndromes. The last gap in evidence evaluates the comparability of long-term antithrombotic strategies in chronic coronary syndromes.