Abstract
The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region comprises a diverse array of countries and is home to approximately 4.6 billion people—accounting for nearly 60% of the global population. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death and disability in the APAC region, with a rising burden particularly in the low- to middle-income countries. In 2021, it is estimated that CVDs contributed to nearly 44% of deaths in the region.
Despite this significant health burden, there is a marked under-representation of patients from the APAC region in international multicenter cardiovascular clinical trials, most of which are conducted in Western countries. Given that randomized controlled trials form the cornerstone of evidence-based practice and clinical guidelines, this lack of representation has important implications for the applicability and translation of effective diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic measures into clinical practice across the region. To address this gap, we have established the Asia Pacific Cardiovascular Research (ASPIRE) Network, a collaborative effort among countries in the APAC region to facilitate and advance regional cardiovascular clinical trials through a collaborative approach.