Turning Awareness Into Action: Information Technology-Based Solutions to Address Care Gaps and Disparities in Valvular Heart Disease

Despite significant diagnostic and therapeutic advances in valvular heart disease (VHD) care, all populations do not yet benefit equally. Established evidence reveals persistent disparities across the VHD care continuum, particularly affecting underserved populations such as women, racial and ethnic minorities, low-income individuals, and rural residents. In recent years, advancements in healthcare information technology (IT) infrastructures and the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) models have equipped us with smarter, more capable electronic health record (EHR) systems and digital tools to help tackle underdiagnosis and undertreatment challenges. However, without a specific equity lens embedded in both research initiatives and real-world implementations, these technological advancements risk leaving disparities unaddressed. In this review, we call for translating current awareness about disparities in VHD care into measurable actions. First, we review documented disparities across three main domains: diagnosis/detection, surveillance/referral, and treatment. Then, we discuss promising IT-based solutions aimed at mitigating these disparities, focusing on three key areas: AI-augmented diagnostic tools, EHR-based clinical decision support systems, and telehealth.