The term late-breaking is well known from the days when a local newscast in North America would interrupt regular programming to provide the latest weather forecasts, severe traffic or road conditions, and other “breaking” information. These reports were often accompanied by scrolling tickers or lower thirds that indicated the significance of the news item. Since the emergence of 24-hour news networks and the advent of generative AI, many similar graphics have become commonplace.
The late-breaking abstract category allows for the presentation of high impact research that is unable to be submitted by the general abstract submission deadline. This includes primary results from randomized controlled trials; subgroup or prespecified analysis of a randomized trial; long-term follow up of device or clinical outcomes; and other important and relevant information that has become available in the last three months. The research should have potential to significantly impact interventional cardiology.
While the late-breaking presentations at SRI are important and exciting, it is also worth considering whether the pendulum has swung too far in this direction and that too much attention has been paid to this relatively small subset of the original research presented at SRI meetings. The emphasis on the Late Breakers may have overshadowed the importance of many other clinically relevant studies that occur in other sessions and perhaps reduced the scrutiny with which these other studies are viewed and given credibility.
While the majority of LBW presentations are confirmatory and extend previous findings, some present highly promising data that could lead to future significant advances in our practice. These are the type of studies that should be considered for inclusion in the LBW program.