American Heart Association Launches Initiative to Boost Clinical Trial Participation and Diagnosis for Aortic Stenosis Patients

Strategic Insights -

The American Heart Association has announced a new effort to increase clinical trial participation and speed diagnosis of aortic stenosis (AS), a common but underdiagnosed heart valve condition, among people living with moderate AS. Aortic stenosis is characterized by the narrowing of the aortic valve opening, which restricts blood flow from the heart to the body, potentially leading to severe complications, including heart failure and death. The new initiative will leverage the Association's established infrastructure and 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.

Key Takeaways:

  • The American Heart Association will support patients with moderate AS by launching a new effort to drive awareness of and access to clinical trials across its nationwide network of hospitals and heart valve clinics.
  • The initiative will aim to engage at least 40 hospitals and their affiliated heart valve clinics to connect more individuals with research opportunities.
  • Over 2,200 people with moderate AS are already managed through the Association's existing quality improvement network, and the new effort will target these patients.
  • The initiative 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 explore barriers to trial enrollment and inform solutions that increase participation in structural heart disease research.

Statistics:

  • Over 2,200 people with moderate AS are already managed through the Association's existing quality improvement network.
  • At least 40 hospitals and their affiliated heart valve clinics will be engaged to connect more individuals with research opportunities.
  • Aortic stenosis affects a significant portion of the population, with potentially severe complications if left untreated.

Sources:

  • [American Heart Association, DALLAS, TX - November 2025]
  • [People living with aortic stenosis (AS) could gain earlier access to innovative care and treatment thanks to a new effort from the American Heart Association.]
  • [Sreekanth Vemulapalli, M.D., the Association's volunteer project clinical leader, and Jay Edelberg, M.D., Ph.D., co-founder and chief medical officer at Kardigan]