Heart failure & cardiomyopathies

Global Heart Failure Epidemiology Versus Enrolment in Pivotal Trials: A Formidable Mismatch

Eur J Heart FailPublished Cross-sectional study

Authors' conclusion

Pivotal HF RCTs generate evidence primarily from Europe and North America, and grossly under-represent Africa and Asia.

Study context

Population
Pivotal phase 3 heart failure (HF) randomized clinical trials (RCTs) shaping international guidelines vs global HF distribution (Global Burden of Disease 2021)
Exposure
Europe vs North America vs Asia vs Africa vs Central & South America
Outcome
Geographic representativeness: representation index (RI, regional trial sites to disease distribution) and participant-to-prevalence ratio (PPR, regional trial participants to disease distribution)

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

Geographic representation in pivotal HF RCTs
GroupRepresentation index (RI)Participant-to-prevalence ratio (PPR)
Europe2.412.69
North America3.252.58
Asia0.260.22
Africa0.140.05
Central & South America1.291.59

Representation index (RI)

Europe2.41
North America3.25
Asia0.26
Africa0.14
Central & South America1.29

Participant-to-prevalence ratio (PPR)

Europe2.69
North America2.58
Asia0.22
Africa0.05
Central & South America1.59

Observational data: associations, not effects.

Further findings

OutcomeValues
Global HF prevalence by region, 2021Asia 50% · Europe 18% · Africa 14% · North America 10% · Central & South America 8%
Global HF prevalence by region, 2021 — People with HF worldwide
55.4 million

Original publication

Global Heart Failure Epidemiology Versus Enrolment in Pivotal Trials: A Formidable Mismatch. Eur J Heart Fail. Published 28 May 2025. doi:10.1002/ejhf.3707

Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →

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