Inclusion of Under-Represented Racial and Ethnic Groups in Cardiovascular Clinical Trials

Strategies to Cultivate Diversity and Achieve Equity in Cardiovascular Clinical Trials

“…2 Although the US Food and Drug Administration stipulates reporting and analysis of results by age, sex, race, and ethnicity, only 56% of major cardiovascular trials reported race, whereas 99% reported sex. 3 Structural racism is a root cause of the historic exclusion of marginalized racial and ethnic groups and per-petuates longstanding inequities in CVD research. In addition to increasing the diversity of research participants, we must apply antiracist strategies and reimagine and reconstruct oppressive systems, policies, and practices to advance equity.…”

“…2 Although the US Food and Drug Administration stipulates reporting and analysis of results by age, sex, race, and ethnicity, only 56% of major cardiovascular trials reported race, whereas 99% reported sex. 3…”

Managing patients with sex-, race-, or ethnicity-based cardiovascular health inequities

“…Although progress is being made toward greater inclusion of historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups in other research areas, they remain underrepresented in cardiovascular clinical trials, though these groups often have increased rates of preventable CVD risk factors such as hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes. Compounding the issue, clinical trials often do not report data specific to racial/ethnic populations 58,60…”

“…Compounding the issue, clinical trials often do not report data specific to racial/ethnic populations. 58,60 This may be a contributing factor to the underuse of antihypertensives, statins, nutritional referrals, and subspecialty referrals in these groups. Increased emphasis is warranted on screening, treating, and minimizing preventable CVD risk factors in disproportionately affected populations, such as Black, Latino, and Southeast Asian patients.…”

Health Techequity: Opportunities for Digital Health Innovations to Improve Equity and Diversity in Cardiovascular Care

“…There is a higher prevalence and increased mortality in Black and Hispanic individuals compared with White individuals [ 83 , 84 ]. Racial and ethnic minoritized groups are less likely to receive appropriate medical therapy and to be included in cardiovascular trials [ 85 , 86 ]. Digital health tools have the ability to improve heart failure management by obtaining important health-related information such as blood pressure, heart rate, EKGs, weight, and symptoms.…”