American Heart Association Launches Initiative to Accelerate Aortic Stenosis Diagnosis and Clinical Trial Access

The American Heart Association has launched a new effort to support earlier diagnosis and treatment of aortic stenosis, a common but underdiagnosed heart valve condition that affects blood flow from the heart to the body. This initiative aims to boost clinical trial participation and accelerate diagnosis through the Association's nationwide network of hospitals and heart valve clinics.

Aortic stenosis is characterized by the narrowing of the aortic valve opening, which restricts blood flow and can lead to severe complications including heart failure and death if left untreated. The condition often goes undiagnosed until it reaches advanced stages, creating significant health risks for affected individuals.

The new program leverages the established infrastructure of the Association's Target: Aortic Stenosis™ program, which already manages more than 2,200 people with moderate aortic stenosis through its quality improvement network. This expanded effort will engage at least 40 hospitals and their affiliated heart valve clinics to connect more individuals with research opportunities while promoting emerging medical therapy alternatives and advancing guideline-based care.

Dr. Sreekanth Vemulapalli, the Association's volunteer project clinical leader, emphasized the importance of early identification. "Aortic stenosis is a serious condition, yet too often, people go undiagnosed until the disease progresses," said Vemulapalli, who also serves as a volunteer member of the Target: Aortic Stenosis Scientific Advisory Group. "By identifying eligible participants for new clinical trials and supporting clinical research, this initiative will help shape the future of care for people affected by this disease."

The initiative receives support from Kardigan, a company focused on revolutionizing cardiovascular disease treatment. Dr. Jay Edelberg, co-founder and chief medical officer at Kardigan, stated, "We're proud to support this American Heart Association initiative to help connect patients with moderate aortic stenosis to promising research opportunities. 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 comprehensive approach, the Association will provide professional education, quality improvement tools, and site-level support to help clinicians better identify and refer individuals eligible for clinical trials. A healthcare provider climate survey will also explore barriers to trial enrollment and inform solutions that increase participation in structural heart disease research. The Target: Aortic Stenosis™ program receives additional support from Edwards Lifesciences, further strengthening the collaborative nature of this medical advancement effort.

This initiative represents a significant step forward in cardiovascular care, potentially transforming how aortic stenosis is diagnosed and treated across the United States. By focusing on earlier intervention and expanded research participation, the program could lead to improved outcomes for thousands of patients living with this serious heart condition while accelerating the development of new treatment options through enhanced clinical trial access at https://www.heart.org.