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Nearly 2,400
Americans die of cardiovascular disease each day; an average of one
death every 37 seconds.
Cardiovascular
disease claims about as many lives each year as cancer, chronic lower
respiratory diseases, accidents and diabetes mellitus combined.
50 percent
of men and 64 percent of women who died suddenly of coronary heart
disease had no previous symptoms of this disease.
The
estimated direct and indirect cost of cardiovascular disease in the United States
for 2008 is $448.5 billion.
American Heart
Association. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics — 2008 Update
Heart & Vascular Institute of Texas is
committed to supporting clinical research studies that lead to
measurable improvements in cardiovascular disease diagnosis, treatment,
and quality of life. As part of this commitment, the Institute
employees a full-time, professional clinical research staff. These clinical research coordinators
work side-by-side with our physicians to carefully monitor the safety
and well-being of our research patients.
The Institute’s physicians conduct clinical
research studies involving the treatment of chest pain, irregular heart
beats, heart failure, heart attack, high blood pressure, and high
cholesterol. Investigational treatments include: angiogenesis (growing
new blood vessels with gene therapy); drug-eluting stents; cardiac
contractility modulation (electrical signals that strengthen the
heart); blood-thinners to prevent stroke; and other study medications to
control blood pressure, irregular heart beats, heart failure, and high
cholesterol. The Institute also conducts post-marketing
registries—clinical studies of medical treatments already approved by
the Food & Drug Administration.
Volunteering for a clinical research study is
an important decision. 1Some patients volunteer for clinical
research studies to take a more active role in their own healthcare, to
gain access to new medical treatments before they are widely available,
or to help others by contributing to medical research. Benefits of
participation may include free medical and diagnostic evaluation, study
medication, and financial compensation for time and travel. However,
participation is not always without risk. To help our patients make an
informed decision about whether to participate in a clinical research
study, a physician or clinical research coordinator will review with
you, both verbally and in writing, the purpose, procedures, risks, and
any benefits of the study. Your participation is always voluntary.
The Institute is currently enrolling patients
in the following studies:
For more information about participating in
one of our clinical research studies, please call (210) 804-6000 or
speak with your cardiologist at your next appointment. You may also go
to the ClinicalTrials.gov
website which is a service of the National Institutes of Health. 1This
excellent site provides patients with easy to understand and up-to-date
information about other federally and privately supported clinical
studies for a wide range of diseases and conditions.
Clinical
Research Professionals
1ClinicalTrials.gov
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