New Initiative Enhances Aortic Stenosis Diagnosis and Treatment

A new initiative launched by the American Heart Association aims to improve early diagnosis and treatment options for individuals suffering from aortic stenosis (AS). This heart valve condition, often undiagnosed, is characterized by the narrowing of the aortic valve opening, which severely restricts blood flow from the heart to the body. Without appropriate treatment, AS can lead to serious complications, including heart failure and even death.

The program seeks to enhance participation in clinical trials and increase awareness of AS across the Association’s extensive network of hospitals and heart valve clinics. “Aortic stenosis is a serious condition, yet too often, people go undiagnosed until the disease progresses,” said Sreekanth Vemulapalli, M.D., the volunteer project clinical leader for the initiative. Vemulapalli also serves as an associate professor of medicine at Duke University and is involved with the Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy and the Duke Clinical Research Institute.

This initiative, supported by Kardigan, builds on the existing framework of the Association’s Target: Aortic Stenosis program, which currently manages over 2,200 individuals with moderate AS. The new effort will engage at least 40 hospitals and their affiliated heart valve clinics, facilitating connections between patients and research opportunities. The program aims to promote innovative medical therapies and advance guideline-based care.

“We’re proud to support this American Heart Association initiative to help connect patients with moderate aortic stenosis to promising research opportunities,” stated Jay Edelberg, M.D., Ph.D., co-founder and chief medical officer at Kardigan. “At Kardigan, we are committed to revolutionizing the treatment of cardiovascular diseases by moving beyond symptom management and redefining care where patients need it most. Improving access to clinical trials will not only advance innovation but also help more people receive the necessary diagnosis and treatment sooner.”

As part of this initiative, the Association will provide professional education, quality improvement tools, and site-level support to assist healthcare providers in identifying and referring eligible individuals for clinical trials. A healthcare provider climate survey will also be conducted to explore barriers to trial enrollment and develop solutions to increase participation in structural heart disease research.

This collaborative effort underscores a shared commitment to enhancing patient care and outcomes for those affected by aortic stenosis, ensuring that more individuals receive timely and effective treatment.