DALLAS, November 9, 2021 — Aortic stenosis is a progressive disease that occurs when the opening of the heart valve narrows, usually due to age.  More than 1.7 million Americans over age 65 have severe aortic stenosis, and without valve replacement as few as half survive beyond two years[1].

In an effort to improve the lives of many patients with aortic stenosis, the American Heart Association, the world’s leading voluntary organization dedicated to building longer, healthier lives, has launched its Target: Aortic Stenosis (Target: AS) initiative with support from Edwards Lifesciences.  The initiative aims to help patients suffering from aortic stenosis get a timely diagnosis, appropriate treatment, improved quality of care and additional resources to combat the disease. Target: AS will provide a way to improve adherence to the valvular heart disease guidelines, in turn improving potential outcomes along the patient journey.

The learning collaborative is a workgroup of pilot hospitals that study and apply quality improvement methodologies - 15 of which have been recognized for participating in the initial data collection phase of Target: Aortic Stenosis.

“This is the first step in development of a quality improvement program that follows the latest guidelines for valvular heart disease,” said Gregg C. Fonarow, M.D., FAHA, FACC, interim chief of the division of cardiology, director of the Ahmanson-UCLA Cardiomyopathy Center, co-director of the Preventative Cardiology Program, and the Eliot Corday Chair in Cardiovascular Medicine and Science at the University of California, Los Angeles. “And these efforts are critical as the rate of diagnosis continues to lag far behind its incidence.“

Since aortic stenosis mostly affects people over age 65, the condition may be overlooked because early symptoms like fatigue or shortness of breath may be mistaken for normal signs of aging. Left untreated, it can lead to heart failure and increased risk of death.

The pilot locations recognized for initial data submission in the Target: Aortic Stenosis learning collaborative are as follows:

  • Barnes-Jewish Hospital

St. Louis

  • Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular Hospital 

Dallas

  • Deborah Heart and Lung Center

Browns Mills, New Jersey

  • Geisinger Medical Center

Danville, Penn.

  • Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia

  • Penn Presbyterian Medical Center

Philadelphia

  • Providence Heart Institute-Providence St. Vincent Medical Center

Portland, Ore.

  • UCLA Medical Center

Los Angeles

  • St. Anthony Hospital/Colorado Heart and Vascular

Lakewood, Colo.

  • Stanford Health Care

Stanford, Calif.

  • Thomas Jefferson University Hospital

Philadelphia

  • The University of Kansas Health System

Kansas City, Kan.

  • University of Utah Health

Salt Lake City, Utah

  • Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Nashville, Tenn.

  • Wellstar Health System

Marietta, Ga.

The participating hospitals remain actively involved in data collection, piloting key measures based on the updated guidelines, and sharing best practices to improve patient care.

Additional resources:

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About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.orgFacebookTwitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

 

Media Contact Info:

For Media Inquiries and AHA/ASA Expert Perspective: 214-706-1173

Karen Springs; karen.springs@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721); heart.org and stroke.org

 

[1] Owens DS, Bartz TM, Buzkova P, et al, Cumulative burden of clinically significant aortic stenosis in community-dwelling older adults

Heart 2021;107:1493-1502.