Three thousand physicians, researchers and experts took part in the 35th Congress of the European Society of Hypertension (ESH 2026), held at AmberExpo in Gdańsk. For the first time in history, Poland hosted one of Europe’s most important events devoted to hypertension, cardiovascular disease and metabolic disorders.
A key role in the organisation of the Congress was played by Prof. Krzysztof Narkiewicz, Head of the Department of Hypertension and Diabetology at the Medical University of Gdańsk and President of the European Society of Hypertension from 2009 to 2011, a world-renowned expert in hypertension. It was Prof. Narkiewicz, together with Prof. Andrzej Januszewicz, who officially opened the Congress.
This is a congress devoted not only to hypertension, but also to cardiometabolic diseases in the broadest sense. We will discuss innovations in the treatment of hypertension, diabetes, obesity and kidney disease. Nearly three thousand participants are attending, not only from Europe, including experts representing virtually every field of medicine, emphasised Prof. Narkiewicz.
Prof. Narkiewicz also drew attention to the high standard of Polish science and the potential of national academic centres. He stressed that Polish researchers are in no way inferior to their European colleagues in terms of the quality and innovation of their research, while noting that further development requires increased investment in science.
Anna Szyndler, M.D., Ph.D. from the Department of Hypertension and Diabetology at the University Clinical Centre, the teaching hospital of the Medical University of Gdańsk, reminded participants of the serious risks associated with hypertension, particularly when left untreated:
Our discussions here focus primarily on new technologies that enable more effective and precise measurement, control and treatment of hypertension. Hypertension remains the greatest killer among cardiovascular diseases, while in essence it is a condition that can be treated effectively.
The Congress programme included presentations of the latest scientific advances, innovative therapies and technologies supporting the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Among the invited guests was Prof. Lotte Bjerre Knudsen from Aarhus University, co-creator of a breakthrough class of medicines based on GLP-1 receptors, now used in the treatment of diabetes and obesity. Other participants in Gdańsk included Thomas Weber, Guido Grassi, Christian Delles, Michalis Doumas and Lene Halvorsen.
The opening ceremony was attended by representatives of national, local government and academic authorities, including Minister of Health Jolanta Sobierańska-Grenda, former President of the Republic of Poland Lech Wałęsa, and Prof. Michał Markuszewski, Rector of the Medical University of Gdańsk.
źródło: Sebastian Łupak/gdansk.pl
zdjęcia: Grzegorz Mehring
