(StatePoint) Cardiovascular diseases and stroke remain leading causes of death worldwide. As researchers work to find new treatments that have the potential to benefit patients, they say that more diversity is needed among participants in clinical trials to advance understanding of these conditions.
“Clinical trials are a cornerstone of medical research and healthcare innovation. They are essential to advancing medical science and ensuring patient safety, and often lead to the development of effective new treatment options. However, it is crucial that they include participants from diverse backgrounds, encompassing a wide range of lived experiences and living conditions, and representing diverse races, ethnicities, ages, genders, and sexual orientations, so that all communities can benefit from scientific advancements,” says Roxana Mehran, MD, FACC, FACP, FCCP, FESC, FAHA, MSCAI, Professor of Medicine in Cardiology and Population Health Science and Policy Professor in Cardiovascular Clinical Research and Outcomes Director of Interventional Cardiovascular Research and Clinical Trials Mount Sinai Health System.
According to research published in JAMA Network Open, women with atrial fibrillation, which is an irregular heart rhythm, face a higher risk of complications, like stroke, compared to men. The American Heart Association reports that cardiovascular disease prevalence remains highest among non-Hispanic Black females and non-Hispanic Black males. Experts believe such gaps in care are partially due to representation in clinical trials. Historically, women and people of color have been underrepresented in cardiovascular research, which has in recent decades, relied primarily on white male study participants.
