Aortic stenosis: a silent threat that could be stealing years from your life. But there's hope! A new initiative by the American Heart Association (AHA) is aiming to accelerate the diagnosis and treatment of this often-overlooked heart condition. This is a big deal because, if left untreated, aortic stenosis (AS) can lead to serious complications, including heart failure and even death.
AS happens when the aortic valve, which controls blood flow from your heart to the rest of your body, narrows. This makes your heart work harder to pump blood. The AHA is stepping up to help by boosting participation in clinical trials and speeding up the diagnosis process. This is particularly crucial for people with moderate AS, a stage where early intervention can make a significant difference.
The AHA is expanding its support through its existing network of hospitals and heart valve clinics. This new effort will focus on raising awareness and increasing access to clinical trials. The goal? To connect more people with potential life-changing treatments.
"Aortic stenosis is a serious condition, yet too often, people go undiagnosed until the disease progresses," says Dr. Sreekanth Vemulapalli, the AHA's volunteer project clinical leader. This is where the initiative steps in, identifying eligible participants for new clinical trials. The initiative will engage at least 40 hospitals and their affiliated heart valve clinics to connect more individuals with research opportunities, promoting emerging medical therapy alternatives and advancing guideline-based care.
This initiative is supported by Kardigan, and leverages the AHA's existing Target: Aortic Stenosis™ program. Currently, over 2,200 individuals with moderate AS are already being managed through this quality improvement network.
Kardigan is on a mission to revolutionize the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. They aim to move beyond symptom management and redefine care where patients and their families need it most. Improving access to clinical trials will not only advance innovation, but also help more people receive the diagnosis and treatment they need sooner.
As part of this new effort, the AHA will provide professional education, quality improvement tools, and on-site support to help clinicians better identify and refer individuals eligible for clinical trials. They will also conduct a healthcare provider climate survey to understand and address barriers to trial enrollment, ultimately increasing participation in structural heart disease research. The Target: Aortic Stenosis™ program is also supported by Edwards Lifesciences.
But here's where it gets controversial... Some might argue that focusing on clinical trials alone isn't enough. What about the need for broader public awareness campaigns or improved access to existing treatments? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
