The American Heart Association (A.S.A.) has launched a new initiative to help people with aortic stenosis (AS) gain earlier access to innovative care and treatments. AS – characterized by narrowing of the aortic valve opening that restricts blood flow from the heart to the body – can lead to serious complications including heart failure and death if left untreated.
Many patients remain undiagnosed until the disease has progressed to advanced stages. The A.S.A.’s effort focuses on expanding clinical trial participation and accelerating diagnosis of this common but underdiagnosed heart valve condition.
Program Framework and Implementation Strategy
The initiative, called Target: Aortic Stenosis™, leverages the A.S.A.’s established quality improvement network that currently manages over 2,200 moderate AS patients nationwide. The program will engage at least 40 hospitals and their affiliated valve clinics to enhance clinical trial awareness and access. ”
Aortic stenosis is a serious condition, but too often people aren’t diagnosed until the disease has progressed,” said Dr. Sreekanth Vemulapalli, volunteer member of the association’s Target: Aortic Stenosis scientific advisory group and associate professor of medicine at Duke University. “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.”
Resource Development and Support Services
As part of the comprehensive effort, the association will provide specialized education, quality improvement tools, and on-site support to help clinicians better identify and refer individuals who qualify for clinical trials.
The program will also conduct health care provider climate surveys to examine barriers to trial enrollment and inform solutions for increasing participation in structural heart disease research. These resources aim to create a seamless pathway from diagnosis to research participation, ultimately accelerating the development of new treatment options.
Industry Collaboration and Infrastructure
The initiative receives support from Kardigan and builds upon the infrastructure of the association’s established Target: Aortic Stenosis™ program, which also receives support from Edwards Lifesciences.
This collaborative model brings together healthcare systems, research institutions, and industry partners to create an integrated platform for AS management and research innovation. The program represents a significant advancement in creating a coordinated national approach to valve disease management.
Quality Improvement and Standardization
The initiative will implement standardized toolkits including patient registry platforms and outcome assessment systems to optimize the entire care continuum from screening through follow-up.
Through continuous quality improvement cycles, the program aims to establish national standards for AS care and promote the adoption of evidence-based treatment protocols. This systematic approach ensures that innovations developed through clinical research can be rapidly incorporated into routine practice.
Future Outlook and Patient Impact
“Target: Aortic Stenosis represents the American Heart Association’s ongoing commitment to ensuring all people have the opportunity to live longer, healthier lives,” the association stated. The program marks a significant milestone in the evolution of cardiac valve disease management toward precision medicine.
By creating a robust clinical trial infrastructure, the initiative not only accelerates the development of innovative therapies but also lays the foundation for future real-world evidence generation. The A.S.A. plans to continue expanding its partner network to transform care models for aortic stenosis patients nationwide.
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