Women in cardiology leadership of randomized clinical trials and participation of women in late-breaking clinical trials: has the COVID-19 pandemic changed a thing or not exactly?

Introduction

Despite considerable developments made in the representation of women in cardiology (WIC) recently, there still remain substantial disparities in the representation of women participants in clinical trials, as well as women physicians and scientists in clinical trial leadership. Under-representation of women in Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) remains the bane of the modern medicine, impeding the development of sex-specific guidelines in cardiovascular diseases. Female leadership in clinical trials has been shown to enhance the inclusion of women as trial participants. Furthermore, while the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted women in academia, there is no data thus far reporting the impact of the pandemic in terms of presenters and leadership of late-breaking clinical trials (LBCT) in cardiology during this period.

Purpose

We aimed to determine inclusion of WIC in LBCTs leadership and their correlation to inclusion of women in reported RCTs.

Methods

In our comprehensive analysis, we included all LBCTs presented at major international cardiovascular meetings reported over the period of January 2020 to February 2022. Data were derived from the original presentation at the meeting and/or simultaneous/ subsequent publication of manuscript. Sex of the presenter (woman or man), was assessed by either original videos of the presentation at the meeting, or based on pronoun use in the biographies derived from institutional profiles. The presence or absence of reporting of sex distribution of study participants were also recorded from original presentation at the meeting and/or published manuscript. Proportion of women included in each trial was sourced from either original publication or calculated from any similar data shown during the presentations.

Results

A total of 400 of RCTs from 19 meetings were included with a total of 400 presenters/principal investigators recorded – 32 (8%) women and 368 (92%) men. There were no significant differences between 2020 and 2021 [15 (7.2%) women in 2021 vs. 17 (19.3%) in 2020 (P=0.446)]. Proportions of women included in RCTs with WIC (37.3%) vs. non-WIC (38.7%) presenters were comparable (p=0.559), while 45% of RCTs didn't report sex distribution of participants. Except for 2 meetings (CRT 2020 and 2022), all others were virtual.

Conclusion

WIC representation as RCTs presenters was significantly low, despite the opportunity of virtual attendance afforded during the COVID-19 pandemic. Modest inclusion of women irrespective of sex of RCT leadership emphasizes multi-level problems that require more actionable solutions: i.e. implicit bias training started as early as medical school, continuing education on necessity for diversity, equity and inclusion, patient and public involvement, and comprehensive guidance on trial design, such that future RCT participants reflect the populations intended to treat.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Short term improvement of global left ventricular longitudinal strain by speckle tracking echocardiography after transcatheter aortic valve implantation in patients with severe aortic stenosis

Background

Global longitudinal strain (GLS) has incremental value in assessing left ventricular (LV) function in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). Long-standing AS causes LV hypertrophy which predisposes to increased cardiac morbidity and mortality. The recent development of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) device for treatment of severe symptomatic AS, offers an option for high risk patients.

Objectives

Our aim was to investigate the correlation between the time elapsed after performing a TAVI procedure and the LV GLS by Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) and its correlation with progressive degree of regression in LV mass (LVM) by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE).

Methods

TTE was performed on 54 patients with severe AS who underwent TAVI procedure. TTE was performed at baseline (before the procedure) and then at 3 months and 6 months post TAVI. GLS was calculated for every patient from STE of the three apical views (apical 4, apical 2 and apical long axis views). The LV muscle volume was calculated by subtraction of LV pericardial volume from LV endocardial volume using biplane Simpson's formula. LVM was then calculated by multiplying LV mass volume by muscle density (1.05).

Results

The study included 54 patients with severe AS (average PG =79.5 mmHg and average mean gradient 40.5 mmHg), with a mean age of 79±10 years and 46 were male. All patients underwent TAVI and average mean gradient post TAVI was 7 mmHg. The mean ± SD of GLS were −15.3±2.0, −15.9±1.7 and −17.2±1.8 for STE obtained at baseline, 3- and 6-months post TAVI, respectively. There was significant difference in LV GLS when comparing baseline measurements with measurements obtained at both 3 months {mean difference ± SD (MD±SD) was 0.57±0.7 (p<0.001)} and at 6 months post TAVI was 1.8±0.8 (p<0.0001). There was significant difference when comparing LV GLS measurements at 3- and 6- months post TAVI MD±SD was 1.2±0.65 (p<0.001). The mean±SD of LVM was 118.5±31, 110.5±29.2 and 101.1±26.4 at baseline, 3- and 6-months post TAVI, respectively. There was significant difference between baseline and 3 months measurement of LVM, MD±SD is 7.6±6.0 (p<0.001). There was significant difference between baseline and 6 months measurement of LVM, MD±SD was 17.0±10.5 (p<0.0001). In addition, there was significant difference of LVM calculation at 3 and 6 months with MD±SD of 9.4±7.9 and (P<0.001).

Conclusions

In patient with severe AS that underwent TAVI, there is short term continues significant improvement of LV GLS by STE. This could be attributed to relieving the pressure overload and regression of LVM over time. Decreasing LV hypertrophy and increasing LV GLS on the short term indicate high efficacy of TAVI procedure and subsequently improving patient prognosis and quality of life.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None