ESC Congress 2026: Supporting Holistic Cardiovascular Care
Daiichi Sankyo Europe recently attended the annual European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2026 in Munich, where healthcare professionals and researchers from around the world came together to exchange ideas and explore advances in cardiovascular care.
This year’s congress reinforced the need for a broader view of heart health. As psychological well-being, social relationships, lifestyle, diet and physical fitness can all shape cardiovascular outcomes.
With a spotlight on artificial intelligence (AI), the ESC Congress 2026 also explored how AI is becoming a co-pilot in patient care, supporting greater precision, speed and safety from diagnosis through to delivery. While technology is reshaping cardiovascular care, it is equally important to ensure that care remains patient-centric.
Following the success of previous years, Daiichi Sankyo invited four experts in holistic heart health to present at its booth at ESC. Their sessions brought the connections between mind, body and diet to life, exploring psychocardiology, physical activity for cardiovascular prevention and how to navigate nutrition information in an era of attention-grabbing headlines and online misinformation. Also, Daiichi Sankyo explored the potential of digital technologies and AI to support earlier detection and more precise cardiovascular care, while complementing clinical judgement, evidence-based practice and communication between patients and healthcare professionals. Read more to discover key insights and practical takeaways from our sessions this year.
Mind: Why the heart-brain connection matters
Psychologist, consultant and speaker Claudia Garbrecht introduced psychocardiology: an interdisciplinary field that explores how mental health and well-being, individual factors and social and environmental factors influence heart health.1
The session highlighted the impact of mental and social well-being on cardiovascular outcomes. In particular, severe mental illness, stress and loneliness are linked to poorer heart health.2, 3 This may be due to behavioural mechanisms such as sleep disturbances, unhealthy lifestyle behaviours and poor adherence to medication and rehabilitation programmes.4
However, there is good news. Many of these factors can be addressed. The question now is no longer whether psychological factors matter for CVD outcomes, but what we can do about them. Mental illness screening, relaxation exercises and positive psychological resources may all help improve outcomes.5, 6, 7
Body: Turning physical activity into cardiovascular prevention
Sports scientist Dr Klara Fuchs explored the role of physical activity as an effective, accessible tool for cardiovascular disease prevention.
According to the evidence presented, 27.5% of adults and 81% of adolescents do not meet World Health Organization physical activity recommendations, while around five million deaths each year are attributable to physical inactivity.8, 9 Regular movement can lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure, reduce inflammation and effectively reduce blood glucose levels.10, 11
For healthcare professionals, effective support begins with understanding each patient’s medical history, medication and potential risks.12 However, apart from physical health, personal life circumstances and barriers can also play a role. Dr. Klara Fuchs recommends HCPs to consider barriers such as socio-economic status, fear, stigma as well as domestic responsibilities.12, 13
Using the FITT principle—frequency, intensity, time and type—can help turn general advice into an achievable plan. The aim is to work progressively towards 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week, with resistance training where appropriate.14, 15
Her take-home message was simple: some physical activity is better than none. Small, enjoyable and sustainable steps can support both physical and mental well-being.15
Food: Looking beyond nutrition headlines in cardiovascular prevention
Dr Tom Butler explored how nutrition headlines can oversimplify cardiovascular health. His key message was to focus on overall dietary patterns and robust evidence—not simplistic “good” or “bad” food labels.
With his substantial research on the link between dairy intake and cardiovascular risks, Dr. Tom Butler found fermented dairy foods such as cheese and yoghurt may affect LDL cholesterol and cardiovascular risk differently from butter, highlighting why the dairy matrix matters.16, 17, 18
He also addressed the popularity of supplements. While research into vitamin K2, aged garlic extract and omega-3 therapies continues, these products should not replace proven lifestyle measures or prescribed treatment.19, 20, 21
Finally, Dr Butler urged caution around broad claims about ultra-processed foods. Processing alone does not determine a food’s nutritional quality or its place in an individual’s overall diet.22
Collaboration is essential for holistic heart health care
ESC Congress 2026 in Munich reinforced that cardiovascular health is shaped by interconnected physical, psychological and social factors. Improving outcomes therefore requires collaboration across clinical disciplines and health-related professions, together with practical, personalised support that helps patients take an active role in their care. By bringing different perspectives together, we can move beyond treating individual risk factors and work towards care that supports holistic heart health. If you’re interested in learning more on our insights to holistic heart health care, take a look at our two European Heart Health Survey factsheets: “Your Heart, Your Health: Navigating Cardiovascular Health” and “Cardiovascular Care: Enhancing Patient Engagement and Education”.23
