Improving Racial and Ethnic Minority Representation in Cardiovascular Disease Trials to Advance Health Equity—Reply

In Reply We appreciate Ifidon and colleagues’ letter regarding infrequent reporting of racial and ethnic minority groups among the included studies in our systematic review.¹ The issue of racial disparities in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia has been well documented. Notably, rates of statin use are often lower in African American populations considered at highest risk of cardiovascular disease compared with white populations at equal risk.² In secondary prevention, racial minority groups with coronary heart disease often have worse long-term cardiovascular outcomes and higher rates of mortality.³ Given these disparities, novel interventions that are effective among populations experiencing the greatest inequity in cardiovascular care—be they racial or ethnic minority groups, individuals with low socioeconomic status, women, or the intersection of multiple social categorizations—are critically important.⁴