Representation of Black patients in heart failure clinical trials

Black patients with heart failure in the United States are underrepresented in clinical trials relative to their overrepresentation in the heart failure population and in adverse heart failure outcomes. We aim to evaluate historical trends in this space and highlight recent developments.

Multiple landmark heart failure trials published since 2019 have underrepresented Black patients, though several discussed this lack of representation as limitations. A review of large heart failure clinical trials from 2001 to 2016 found persistent underrepresentation of Black patients without significant change over time. Trials enrolling from North America exclusively had more proportional representation, enrolling an average of 31.6% Black participants.

There is a shrinking proportion of Black patients in pivotal heart failure trials despite a higher prevalence of disease and associated adverse outcomes. There is increasing awareness of these disparities within the heart failure community, potentially leading to improved representation in future studies.