Race not reported in cardio trials

NEW YORK, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- Half of all randomized clinical trials for cardiovascular disease are not reporting race, U.S. researchers say.

The study, published online in the American Heart Journal, finds that out of 156 cardiovascular randomized control trials, 35 percent reported information on race or ethnicity from 1970- 2006. From 2000-2006, 46 percent of trials included race or ethnic information.

"Over time, information on enrollment by race and ethnic group has improved but nevertheless, information on this important demographic of patient enrollment is far from ideal," study co-author Dr. Jeffrey Berger of the New York University School of Medicine says in a statement.

"It is imperative that all studies provide basic information including race and ethnicity. Furthermore, we must have good representation of different ethnic and minority groups in randomized control trials to apply data appropriately."

The representation of minority ethnic groups remains too low, the study authors say. Only 15 percent of the 156 trials had sufficient diversity to even attempt analysis of results by race, the study says.

"Our study should have important implications for future design and publication of randomized clinical trials," Berger says.