June 19, 2024- About 40,000 people in the United States experience recurrent pericarditis, or inflammation of the sac-like structure that protects the heart, which can cause chest pain and may lead to fluid buildup around the heart muscle. The American Heart Association, as a result, is launching a three-year initiative to empower patients and equip health care providers with up-to-date science to inform recurrent pericarditis care decisions.
The Addressing Recurrent Pericarditis initiative aims to improve diagnosis, treatment and quality of life for those with the disease by:
- addressing gaps and barriers in patient care,
- educating health care professionals, and
- developing tailored patient education resources.
The Association will work with champions at 15 regional health care sites to implement initiative activities, improve site performance and quality of care, and support the Association’s mission to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives.