March 19, 2026
What does it take to combat an epidemic? Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. In the last decade, heart failure-related mortality trends have increased — despite ongoing advancements in medical and device-based therapies.
According to a new scientific statement published in the American Journal of Preventive Cardiology, a commitment to prioritize prevention is needed. Members of the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) and the American Society for Preventive Cardiology (ASPC) created the joint scientific statement to emphasize the links between cardiovascular disease prevention and heart failure. "Given that heart failure remains one of the most serious and debilitating cardiovascular conditions — and the leading cause of hospitalization in the United States — the need to elevate prevention as a clinical priority is both urgent and timely. These sobering realities provided the impetus for this joint statement," says LaPrincess C. Brewer, M.D., M.P.H., a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and one of the statement's authors.
"This is the first joint statement on the prevention of heart failure by two preeminent professional cardiology societies. It expands the definition of heart failure risk to include not only traditional factors like hypertension, diabetes and obesity but also nontraditional contributors, including sex-specific, social, genetic, psychological and cardiotoxic influences," Dr. Brewer says. "This comprehensive framework highlights the importance of delivering personalized and equitable prevention strategies."
Continuous cardiovascular care
The statement calls for a paradigm shift in cardiovascular care since prevention has not been prioritized. "It's redefining heart failure prevention as a continuous, longitudinal strategy rather than a single point of intervention," Dr. Brewer says. "While significant progress has been made in pharmacologic and device-based therapies, prevention has not been fully operationalized as a central pillar of heart failure care."
Key recommendations include:
- Dismantle siloed models of care and adopt a coordinated, team-based approach to heart failure prevention.
- Develop specialized prevention clinics designed to deliver comprehensive patient care while advancing state-of-the-art research and education.
- Engage with a broader multidisciplinary team, including endocrinologists, registered dietitians, pharmacists, exercise physiologists, and geneticists, to support holistic and equitable preventive care.
- Identify and address heart failure risk early and across the lifespan, integrated alongside therapeutic interventions. This approach includes expanding traditional atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk assessment to include estimation of heart failure risk.
"These programs would foster collaboration across cardiovascular subspecialties and strengthen partnerships with primary care physicians, who remain at the forefront of prevention and longitudinal care coordination," Dr. Brewer says.
Prevention-centered approach
The impact this statement could have on clinical practice is advancing a prevention-centered approach to heart failure care. Adopting this mindset will help integrate current guidelines and validated risk models into routine practice. This includes initiating evidence-based therapies early in patients with high risk who are asymptomatic.
"The statement emphasizes a proactive rather than reactive model of care. It also encourages the use of empathetic, patient-centered language that promotes heart function and resilience — moving away from terminology that may imply decline or stigma," Dr. Brewer says. "Together, these shifts have the potential to meaningfully enhance patient engagement and the delivery of cardiovascular care."
Building community trust
Dr. Brewer is also the founding director and principal investigator of the Fostering African-American Improvement in Total Health (FAITH!) Cardiovascular Health and Wellness Program. Launched in 2013, this community-based participatory research initiative addresses cardiovascular health disparities among African Americans.
The program reaches faith communities through education and digital health tools. Its innovations include a National Institutes of Health-funded randomized clinical trial testing health intervention with a mobile app co-created with community members. Another example is a study that evaluates the effectiveness of a culturally relevant, community-informed intervention. This FAITH! model shows a scalable, community-led strategy for advancing cardiovascular health.
"The FAITH! HTN study is a collaboration with Federally Qualified Health Centers addressing uncontrolled hypertension, a major risk factor for heart failure in African American patients. A smartphone app and Bluetooth blood pressure monitor encourage lifestyle changes and self-monitored blood pressure while participants also receive support from a community health worker addressing barriers to care or social determinant needs," Dr. Brewer says.
Looking ahead
Continued innovation in research will be essential to advance heart failure prevention. Areas of opportunity include integrating:
- Artificial intelligence.
- Digital health platforms.
- Genomics.
- Precision medicine.
Some emerging topics will need further investigation, such as how:
- Psychological well-being affects heart failure risk.
- Potential interventions such as stress mitigation and spirituality impact heart disease.
"The statement also serves as a roadmap for health systems and policymakers to address structural barriers to care, particularly for medically underserved populations," Dr. Brewer says. "By fostering collaboration, embracing innovation and advancing equitable access, we can meaningfully move the needle in heart failure prevention."
For more information
Lala A, et al. The continuum of prevention and heart failure in cardiovascular medicine: A joint scientific statement from the Heart Failure Society of America and the American Society for Preventive Cardiology. American Journal of Preventive Cardiology. 2025;24:101069.
Refer a patient to Mayo Clinic.