ASE 2026 Research Spotlight 4

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Natalie Costantino
919-297-7170
[email protected]

Simple Echocardiography Report Change Improves Care for Patients with Severe Aortic Stenosis

(DURHAM, N.C., June 25, 2026)—A simple addition to an echocardiography report may help improve care for patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis, a common and potentially life-threatening heart valve disease.

Research being presented at the American Society of Echocardiography’s (ASE) 2026 Scientific Sessions, examined whether an automated reminder embedded directly into the initial echocardiogram report of patients diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis improved adherence to guideline-recommended follow-up imaging. Current guidelines recommend that asymptomatic patients undergo repeat echocardiography within six to 12 months after diagnosis, however follow-up can be inconsistent.

In the study, titled “Effect of an Echocardiography Report-Embedded Nudge on Guideline-Recommended Surveillance Echocardiography in Asymptomatic Severe Aortic Stenosis,” researchers implemented a non-interruptive “nudge” within echocardiography reports of 619 patients. Individuals whose reports contained the automated reminder were more likely to receive recommended follow-up echocardiography compared with patients evaluated before the intervention was implemented. After accounting for mortality, the one-year rate of follow-up echocardiography increased from 48.8% to 60.5%.

“Echocardiography is the cornerstone diagnostic tool for severe aortic stenosis, and our study demonstrates that a simple, automated alert embedded directly into the echocardiogram report can meaningfully increase rates of timely referral and follow-up care, especially among non-cardiology providers,” said Dr. Azin Vakilpour, postdoctoral research fellow in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and presenting author of the study.

Dr. Vakilpour noted that because echocardiogram reports are routinely accessible to both healthcare providers and patients, the intervention may also empower patients to become more engaged in their care.

“This scalable, low-cost intervention requires no change in clinical workflow and has the potential to bridge the persistent gap between diagnosis and appropriate care across diverse healthcare settings,” said Dr. Vakilpour.

The abstract findings represent a subgroup analysis of a larger multicenter study, supported by a grant from ASE and the ASE Foundation, that included more than 5,000 patients and demonstrated that an automated reminder embedded in echocardiography reports increased rates of timely referral and aortic valve replacement among patients with severe aortic stenosis, particularly in patients with non-cardiac specialty providers.

The abstract will be presented as a poster session at ASE 2026, and the complete multicenter study results are published in the May 2026 issue of the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography (JASE) and will also be featured in the new Echo Discovery Zone on Saturday, June 27, at the Gaylord Rockies Convention Center in Aurora, Colorado.

ASE 2026 will feature more than 500 abstract presentations showcasing cutting-edge research on the latest advances in cardiovascular ultrasound and cases illustrating breakthroughs in patient care. Learn more about ASE 2026 and view all research abstracts in JASE.

About American Society of Echocardiography
The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is the Society for Cardiovascular Ultrasound Professionals™. ASE is the largest global organization for cardiovascular ultrasound imaging serving physicians, sonographers, nurses, veterinarians, and scientists and as such is the leader and advocate, setting practice standards and guidelines for the field. The Society is committed to advancing cardiovascular ultrasound to improve lives. For more information, visit the ASE website ASEcho.org or social media pages on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Bluesky.

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