Heart disease

By Mayo Clinic Staff
Aug. 13, 2024

Research

Mayo Clinic healthcare professionals actively study conditions of the heart, arteries and veins, called cardiovascular diseases, in laboratory and clinical research programs. They also study new diagnostic tests and treatments for heart disease.

Topics of research have included:

  • Genetic risk factors for different types of heart disease.
  • The role of gene therapy as a treatment for heart disease.
  • The use of molecular imaging methods for early detection of arterial atherosclerosis.

Some research programs include:

  • Structural Heart Disease Program. This program focuses on congenital heart disease, pericardial disease and valvular heart disease, among other cardiovascular conditions.
  • Heart Rhythm Disease Program. This program looks at several areas related to irregular heartbeats, called arrhythmias. Healthcare professionals in this program research treatment approaches to sudden cardiac death and atrial fibrillation, as well as the effectiveness of different types of cardiac devices.
  • Preventive Cardiology Program. The goal of this program is to increase understanding and education about heart disease prevention. It encourages preventive care, including precision medicine through genomics and bioinformatics and using novel tools for phenotyping.

You may be eligible to participate in a clinical trial conducted at Mayo Clinic. Read more about research in the Cardiovascular Research Center.

Publications

See a list of publications about heart disease by Mayo Clinic doctors on PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine.

  1. What is cardiovascular disease? American Heart Association. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/consumer-healthcare/what-is-cardiovascular-disease. Accessed May 25, 2022.
  2. AskMayoExpert. Healthy diet. Mayo Clinic; 2022.
  3. Ami TR. Allscripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic. April 9, 2024.
  4. Ferry AV, et al. Presenting symptoms in men and women diagnosed with myocardial infarction using sex-specific criteria. Journal of the American Heart Association. 2019; doi:10.1161/JAHA.119.012307.
  5. Symptoms, diagnosis and monitoring of arrhythmia. American Heart Association. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/arrhythmia/symptoms-diagnosis--monitoring-of-arrhythmia. Accessed May 25, 2022.
  6. Overview of congenital cardiovascular anomalies. Merck Manual Professional Version. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/pediatrics/congenital-cardiovascular-anomalies/overview-of-congenital-cardiovascular-anomalies. Accessed May 25, 2022.
  7. How the heart beats. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/heart/heart-beats. Accessed May 25, 2022.
  8. Cooper LT. Definition and classification of the cardiomyopathies. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed May 25, 2022.
  9. Ferri FF. Endocarditis, infective. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2022. Elsevier; 2022. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed May 25, 2022.
  10. Ferri FF. Heart failure. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2022. Elsevier; 2022. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed May 25, 2022.
  11. Libby P, et al., eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Elsevier; 2022. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed May 25, 2022.
  12. Grundy SM, et al. 2018 AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA guideline on the management of blood cholesterol: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Circulation. 2019; doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000625.
  13. 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov. Accessed May 25, 2022.
  14. How blood flows through the heart. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/heart/blood-flow. Accessed May 25, 2022.
  15. Stouffer GA, et al. The history and physical examination. In: Netter's Cardiology. 3rd ed. Elsevier; 2019. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed May 25, 2022.
  16. Arnett DK, et al. 2019 ACC/AHA guideline on the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Circulation. 2019; doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000678.
  17. Fuster V, et al., eds. Fuster and Hurst's the Heart. 15th ed. McGraw Hill; 2022. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed June 10, 2022.
  18. 8 things you can do to prevent heart disease and stroke. American Heart Association. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/prevent-heart-disease-and-stroke. Accessed June 13, 2022.
  19. High blood pressure. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/symptoms-causes/syc-20373410. Accessed June 13, 2022.
  20. 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov. Accessed June 15, 2022.
  21. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. 2nd ed. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://health.gov/our-work/physical-activity/current-guidelines. Accessed June 16, 2022.
  22. AskMayoExpert. Stable ischemic heart disease (adult). Mayo Clinic; 2022.
  23. AskMayoExpert. Hyperlipidemia (adult): Screening for coronary artery disease risk (adult). Mayo Clinic; 2022.
  24. Blood cholesterol. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/blood-cholesterol. Accessed June 20, 2022.
  25. High cholesterol. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/symptoms-causes/syc-20350800. Accessed June 20, 2022.
  26. Lloyd-Jones DM, et al. Life's essential 8: Updating and enhancing the American Heart Association's construct of cardiovascular health: A presidential advisory from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2022; doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000001078.
  27. American Heart Association adds sleep to cardiovascular health checklist. American Heart Association. https://newsroom.heart.org/news/american-heart-association-adds-sleep-to-cardiovascular-health-checklist. Accessed July 15, 2022.