Abstract Body (Do not enter title and authors here): Introduction
Access to cardiovascular diagnostics remains a major barrier to equitable care, particularly
among underserved populations. In alignment with ASE, ACC, and AHA recommendations for
targeted screening, the Every Heart Matters Program (EHMP) was launched in 2023 to provide
free transthoracic echocardiograms (TTEs) across Western Pennsylvania. To date, EHMP has
performed over 350 echocardiograms, identifying structural heart disease (SHD) in more than
25% of participants. African American women were identified as a particularly high-risk group,
with 1 in 5 showing abnormal findings. We present a case that illustrates the clinical impact of
this initiative.
Description of Case
A 50-year-old uninsured African American woman with a history of poorly controlled
hypertension, preeclampsia, tobacco and alcohol use, and a sedentary lifestyle presented with
exertional dyspnea and a new murmur. Blood pressure was 202/102 mmHg. Due to
longstanding gaps in healthcare access, she had never undergone cardiac evaluation. EHMP
provided a screening TTE, which revealed moderate concentric LV hypertrophy, global
hypokinesis, reduced ejection fraction (EF) of 40%, mild left atrial enlargement, moderate-to-
severe aortic regurgitation, moderate mitral regurgitation, and mild pulmonary hypertension.
She received urgent cardiology follow-up and was provided a free heart health kit (digital BP
monitor, scale, fitness tracker). Guideline-directed medical therapy was initiated. Within 12
weeks, she demonstrated substantial lifestyle changes, including smoking cessation and
reduced alcohol intake. Blood pressure normalized to 112/70 mmHg. Repeat TTE showed EF
improvement to 55%, resolution of mitral regurgitation and pulmonary hypertension, and
improvement in aortic regurgitation to mild.
Discussion
This case highlights the transformative role of community-based echocardiographic screening in
identifying and reversing subclinical cardiovascular disease in high-risk, uninsured individuals.
EHMP’s outreach to federally qualified health centers, residential complexes, community
centers, and churches—serving predominantly minority populations—demonstrates a scalable
and impactful approach to reducing disparities. Early detection enabled timely medical
intervention, lifestyle modification, and significant cardiac recovery. Expansion of similar
programs is critical to advancing equity in cardiovascular care.