Margus Viigimaa, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech), has been elected a Fellow of the American Heart Association (FAHA). The distinction recognises his scientific and professional achievements and contributions to advancing cardiovascular health.
Viigimaa is the only FAHA from Estonia. He is also the only Fellow of the American College of Cardiology (FACC) from Estonia, having held that distinction since 2014.
One of the main focuses of Viigimaa’s international research has been advancing the treatment of atherosclerosis. He has served on the steering committees of two major international clinical trials, FOURIER and VESALIUS-CV.
“FOURIER was a landmark trial with global significance,” Viigimaa said. His involvement in the trial’s planning and design began in 2010.
Results from the FOURIER trial, published in 2017, showed that adding evolocumab, a monoclonal antibody that lowers LDL cholesterol, to statin therapy reduced the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke and other cardiovascular events in patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The trial provided important evidence that further lowering LDL cholesterol can improve cardiovascular outcomes.
The subsequent VESALIUS-CV trial demonstrated the benefits of evolocumab in high-risk patients who had not previously experienced a myocardial infarction or stroke. Treatment reduced the risk of a first major cardiovascular event, broadening the evidence base for preventive treatment before a first heart attack or stroke.
Viigimaa is also a Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology (FESC).