Non-interventional Pre-screening Protocol Aims to Evaluate Participants for Potential Trial Eligibility in Future Clinical Trials/Studies Focusing on Metabolic and Psychiatric Health.
A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety, Pharmacodynamics (PD), and Pharmacokinetics (PK) of Selnoflast in Reducing Vascular Inflammation in Participants With Atherosclerosis at Risk for Major Adverse Cardiac Events
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Focusing on the Menopausal Transition to Improve Mid-Life Women's Health
The SWITCH (Substitution of High With Low Ultra-processed Soy Protein Foods In a Guideline-based Diet inTervention for Cardiometabolic Health) Trial
OCEAN(a)-PreEvent - Olpasiran Trials of Cardiovascular Events And LipoproteiN(a) Reduction to Prevent First Major Cardiovascular Events
Evaluating the Impact of Maridebart Cafraglutide on Cardiovascular Outcomes in Participants With Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease and Overweight or Obesity
Trial to Evaluate Safety And Effectiveness of Mechanical Circulatory Support in Patients With Advancing Heart Failure
EASi-PROTKT™ - A Study to Test Vicadrostat (BI 690517) Taken Together With Empagliflozin in People With Type 2 Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, and Cardiovascular Disease
Clinical Assessment and Targeted Imaging to Characterize High-Risk Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease of Survivors in SJLIFE
MANATEE-T1D: Metformin ANd AutomaTEd Insulin Delivery System Effects on Renal Vascular Resistance, Insulin Sensitivity, and Cardiometabolic Function in Youth With Type 1 Diabetes
What is cardiovascular disease?
Cardiovascular disease is the group of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels, and together they are the leading cause of death in the United States. The most common is coronary artery disease, in which cholesterol filled plaque narrows the arteries that feed the heart and can cause a heart attack. Others include heart failure, where the heart cannot pump well enough; rhythm problems such as atrial fibrillation; stroke, when blood flow to the brain is blocked; and disease of the heart valves and peripheral arteries. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, obesity, and inactivity drive most of it.
Much of cardiovascular disease can be prevented or slowed, and nearly every tool doctors use came from large trials that measured real heart attacks, strokes, and deaths rather than lab numbers. One frontier is lipoprotein(a), an inherited cholesterol like particle that is high in about 1 in 5 people and cannot be lowered by diet, exercise, or any approved medicine; large outcome trials of drugs that target it are under way.
Types of cardiovascular clinical trials
Cholesterol and lipoprotein(a) trials. New injections and pills that lower LDL cholesterol or lipoprotein(a), tested in outcome trials measuring heart attacks and strokes.
Heart failure trials. Medicines and devices for weak or stiff hearts; see heart failure clinical trials.
Heart rhythm trials. Ablation technology, new blood thinners, and wearable monitoring for atrial fibrillation; see atrial fibrillation clinical trials.
Blood pressure trials. Long acting medicines and procedures for hard to control hypertension; see high blood pressure clinical trials.
Prevention after a heart attack or stroke. Anti inflammatory drugs, weight loss medicines, and programs that prevent a second event; see stroke clinical trials.
Device and procedure trials. Stents, valves, and implants, often compared against the best current procedure; see medical device clinical trials.
Who can participate in cardiovascular clinical trials?
Trials are organized by condition, so most require a specific diagnosis such as coronary artery disease, heart failure, or atrial fibrillation, confirmed by tests. Prevention trials often enroll people who have already had a heart attack or stroke, or who have a risk factor such as high cholesterol or lipoprotein(a) above a set level. Many require stable doses of current heart medicines, and most are placebo controlled on top of standard care, so no one stops proven treatment. Device trials have anatomy requirements checked by imaging. Some prevention and screening studies enroll healthy adults with risk factors and no diagnosis. Eligibility always varies by study.
How is cardiovascular disease prevented?
By controlling blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar, not smoking, staying active, and keeping a healthy weight; medicines such as statins add protection for people at higher risk.
Our guides to preventing a second heart attack and heart disease in the family go deeper.
Types of cardiovascular disease, and where to find their trials
Coronary artery disease and heart attack. Narrowed heart arteries; see coronary artery disease clinical trials.
Heart failure. See heart failure clinical trials.
Atrial fibrillation and rhythm disorders. See atrial fibrillation clinical trials.
High blood pressure. See high blood pressure clinical trials.
Stroke. See stroke clinical trials.
How to enroll in a cardiovascular clinical trial
Identify your trial. Use the filters and start with your specific diagnosis; the pages above list trials by condition.
Select your preferred location. Enter your city or state; large outcome trials run at hundreds of sites, device trials at cardiac centers.
Explore study details. Click "Learn More" for the diagnosis required, risk factor thresholds, and current medicine rules.
Complete the health profile. Click "Get started" to begin the 5-step application. Have ready your diagnosis and recent tests such as an echocardiogram or cholesterol panel, your heart medicines and doses, and any prior heart attack, stroke, or procedure.
Submit the application. A clinical trial coordinator reviews it and contacts you. Nothing is decided until informed consent, and participation is voluntary at every step.