The average time it takes for evidence to change clinical practice is 17 years.1 Amgen is aiming to close this gap between evidence generated from trials to routine practice with implementation science, the study of what supports successful adoption of research and evidence into routine care.
One year ago, Amgen created the Leading Awareness To Action Through Implementation of Cardiometabolic Efforts Consortium, or LATTICE™ Consortium, to transform approaches to cardiovascular and metabolic care. The group, comprised of nearly 20 visionary cardiovascular leaders from healthcare systems and research institutions, focused on improving LDL ("bad") cholesterol testing and management.
Since its inception, the LATTICE™ Consortium has helped launch and advance more than 10 programs across 60 institutions and 6,000 private practice clinics. The LATTICE™ Consortium has collectively reached around 4 million patients, and aims to help more than 6 million patients by the end of 2024.
Ahead of the American College of Cardiology's Annual Meeting (ACC.24), Amgen's Bethany Kalich, Asset Lead Medical Director, spoke with LATTICE™ Consortium members Dr. Neha Pagidipati, Preventive Cardiologist at Duke University School of Medicine, Dr. Ankeet S. Bhatt, Cardiologist and Clinical Investigator, and Dr. Marc Bonaca, Executive Director, CPC Clinical Research, to dive deeper into the progress and what excites them about the future of the group.
Bethany Kalich: What has been a highlight for you about the progress being made through the LATTICE™ Consortium?
Dr. Bonaca: The LATTICE™ Consortium has brought together many academic leaders and innovators to share ideas and progress. The forum and collaborative culture of the group has created great synergies amongst the individuals, groups, and projects. Seeing how these synergies have accelerated and improved progress in implementation science has been a highlight for me. I'm grateful to participate in and contribute to this collaborative group.
Dr. Bhatt: For me, the highlight of the LATTICE™ Consortium is its fundamental focus on broadening our understanding of how we best can deliver high quality, evidence-based healthcare to patients. You can see this in the impactful initiatives the Consortium has helped support, like the Driving Urgency in LDL Screening program guided by an independent American College of Cardiology (ACC) physician project committee. This large-scale quality implementation initiative aims to enhance awareness and emphasize the importance of active LDL monitoring and related treatment to mitigate atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk.
Overall, witnessing the collaborative efforts and tangible outcomes of initiatives like the Driving Urgency program highlights the potential for transformative change in advancing cardiovascular care.
Bethany Kalich: What excites you about the future of the LATTICE™️ Consortium?
Dr. Bonaca: Many of us have been troubled and frustrated about the lack of translation from trial to clinic in a way that has ultimately not served our patients. To me, the LATTICE™ Consortium is the next generation of implementation science, and the future of the consortium is about enabling participants to think, act and synergize at a broader scale to make a greater impact.
Dr. Bhatt: First, the fact that the LATTICE™ Consortium has brought together a unique cadre of individuals with varied expertise and shared goals makes me excited for the discussions, problems identified, and proposed solutions. Second, these insights and findings from the LATTICE™ Consortium have the potential to leave a lasting impact on cardiovascular healthcare delivery and may even be transferrable to other diseases.
Bethany Kalich: The "Test to Treat" project by CardioHealth Alliance has also been top of mind for the Consortium. Can you tell us about this initiative, progress made and ultimate goal?
Dr. Pagidipati: The "Test to Treat" project aims to improve the testing and management of LDL cholesterol after a patient experiences an acute cardiac event. To accomplish this, we are evaluating multifaceted strategies to (1) increase LDL cholesterol testing and appropriate management in the inpatient setting for patients hospitalized for myocardial infarction (MI) or coronary revascularization, and to (2) increase LDL cholesterol testing, appropriate management, and achievement of guideline-based LDL cholesterol goals in the outpatient setting within six months of discharge. Thus far we have written the protocol and are currently developing intervention materials and contracting with sites.
Bethany Kalich: How do you hope the LATTICE ™ Consortium will impact patient care?
Dr. Pagidipati: I believe the LATTICE™ Consortium can impact patient care because experts and advocates across the country are convening to share best practices and collaborate. It's a unique opportunity to discuss what we're seeing in our own organizations to improve lipid management for patients everywhere with cardiovascular disease.
To learn more about the LATTICE™ Consortium, please visit LATTICEConsortium.com.
References
- Morris ZS, Wooding S, Grant J. The answer is 17 years, what is the question: understanding time lags in translational research. J R Soc Med. 2011 Dec;104(12):510-20. doi: 10.1258/jrsm.2011.110180. PMID: 22179294; PMCID: PMC3241518.
