American Heart Association Launches National Initiative to Improve ATTR-CM Diagnosis and Care Coordination

The American Heart Association has launched a nationwide effort to strengthen the system of care for people living with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy, a serious and often underdiagnosed condition caused by abnormal protein buildup that prevents the left ventricle from relaxing and filling properly. ATTR-CM impairs the heart's ability to pump blood, and when left untreated, the disease can lead to heart failure and significantly shorten life expectancy. The quality improvement initiative, financially supported by Alnylam, is designed to improve early diagnosis and coordination of care, ultimately enhancing the patient experience.

Early recognition and diagnosis of ATTR-CM is critical, as timely care gives patients access to treatments that can extend survival, preserve physical function and maintain quality of life. As awareness of ATTR-CM grows and treatment options continue to advance, patients increasingly need coordinated, specialist-led care. However, building and sustaining these multidisciplinary systems remains challenging for many health care centers. ATTR-CM is a life-threatening condition that is too often recognized late, when current disease modifying therapy is less effective, according to Mat Maurer, M.D., volunteer member of the American Heart Association's ATTR Amyloidosis Strategic Advisory Group and professor of medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

The three-year effort brings together a cohort of 10 multidisciplinary health care teams from across the country in a learning collaborative designed to better understand and improve ATTR-CM care pathways. The initiative focuses on the full patient journey from diagnosis and referral through treatment and follow-up, with the goal of identifying successful, replicable models of care that can drive change nationwide. By bringing multidisciplinary teams together to examine the full patient journey, this new initiative is helping identify practical, scalable approaches that can support earlier recognition, more coordinated care and better outcomes for people living with this disease.

Through shared learning and collaboration, participating sites will work to gain insights into current ATTR-CM practice pathways and amplify approaches that improve coordination of care, support earlier identification and strengthen long-term management for people living with ATTR-CM. By uncovering gaps in care and uniting experts across medical specialties, the initiative aims to help build a more integrated system that improves outcomes for patients nationwide. As awareness of ATTR-CM grows and treatment options continue to advance, it is essential that patients have access to well-coordinated, specialist-led care, said Sameer Bansilal, M.D., M.S., cardiologist and vice president, Global TTR Medical lead, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals.

The initiative represents a significant step toward addressing systemic challenges in ATTR-CM care delivery. For more information about the ATTR-CM initiative and to see a list of participating health care centers, visit heart.org/ATTRCMDiscovery. Additional resources about this condition and related educational materials are available through the American Heart Association's professional networks and support systems for both healthcare providers and patients affected by cardiovascular diseases.