The American Heart Association has initiated a nationwide quality improvement effort to strengthen care systems for patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy, a serious and frequently underdiagnosed heart condition. ATTR-CM occurs when abnormal protein buildup prevents the left ventricle from relaxing and filling properly, impairing the heart's ability to pump blood effectively. When left untreated, the disease can lead to heart failure and significantly reduce life expectancy.
Early recognition and diagnosis of ATTR-CM is critical because timely intervention gives patients access to treatments that can extend survival, preserve physical function, and maintain quality of life. However, building and sustaining multidisciplinary care systems remains challenging for many healthcare centers despite growing awareness of the condition and advancing treatment options.
"ATTR-CM is a life-threatening condition that is too often recognized late, when current disease modifying therapy is less effective," said 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 initiative brings together 10 multidisciplinary healthcare teams from across the country in a learning collaborative designed to better understand and improve ATTR-CM care pathways.
The program focuses on the complete 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. 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.
"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 at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, which is financially supporting the initiative. The effort aims to uncover gaps in care and unite experts across medical specialties to build a more integrated system that improves outcomes for patients nationwide.
For more information about the ATTR-CM initiative and to see a list of participating healthcare centers, visit heart.org/ATTRCMDiscovery. Additional resources about the condition are available through the American Heart Association's professional education materials, including information on Transthyretin Amyloidosis for Professionals and Extra-Cardiac Clues to Amyloidosis.
