The Urgent Need for Cardiovascular Research
February marks American Heart Month, highlighting the global impact of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Despite medical advances, CVD remains the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for 17.9 million deaths annually (32% of global mortality). In the U.S., heart disease claims 702,880 lives each year—one in every five deaths.
With CVD prevalence rising, cardiovascular clinical trials are expanding. The global cardiovascular clinical trials market reached $5.26 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at 6.0% annually through 2030, reflecting the demand for novel therapies and improved prevention strategies.
Key Challenges in Cardiovascular Clinical Research
Cardiovascular trials present unique complexities requiring advanced technology and adaptive study design:
1. Selecting Meaningful Endpoints
Unlike some therapeutic areas, cardiovascular trials require longer durations and larger patient populations to assess hard clinical endpoints like mortality, stroke, hospitalizations and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Integrating biomarker and imaging endpoints (e.g., troponin levels, echocardiograms, angiograms) is crucial.
2. Managing Adverse Events & Safety Data
Higher adverse event rates demand:
- Granular AE collection, with forms for stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), and bleeding.
- Central Endpoint Committees (CEC) adjudication workflows for structured review.
3. Regulatory Complexity & Innovation
The FDA and EMA emphasize real-world evidence (RWE) and digital biomarkers, requiring rigorous data tracking and compliance measures.
4. Digital Health & Imaging Integration
Modern trials increasingly rely on:
- DICOM imaging for cardiovascular scans (echocardiograms, angiograms).
- Wearable device data (heart rate, blood pressure).
- Automated adjudication workflows to streamline assessments.
How Mednet Supports Cardiovascular Research
The iMednet platform and expert support team provide solutions to streamline study design, ensure compliance, and improve data management:
- DICOM Integration – Direct uploads of angiograms, echocardiograms, and real-time imaging assessments.
- Real-Time Data Capture – Supports biomarker data collection and ease of integration with the entire ecosystem including wearables and more.
- Automated AE Tracking – Customizable AE forms and CEC workflows for efficient event adjudication.
- Flexible Study Design – Mid-study modifications without disruptions, supporting adaptive trials.
- Regulatory Compliance & Expert Support – Mednet’s technical project operations team leverages deep therapeutic category experience to optimize processes and manage unique or complex requirements. Our quality and compliance team brings unmatched expertise to ensure regulatory adherence.
Driving the Future of Cardiovascular Research
The evolving cardiovascular landscape demands advanced technology, regulatory adaptability, and specialized expertise. Mednet delivers an intuitive, compliant, and innovative platform, helping researchers capture complex data, execute efficient trials, and accelerate life-saving treatments.
Partner with Mednet for your next cardiovascular study. Contact us to learn more about how Mednet’s technology and expertise can support your next cardiovascular trial.