Evolution of Cardiovascular Outcomes Studies

Research on cardiovascular health has dramatically evolved since the mid-1900s. Observational studies evaluate the relationships between exposures and outcomes, but these types of studies are vulnerable to confounding and bias. Randomized, controlled trials are a more effective approach for establishing cause-and-effect relationships. Cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOTs) are commonly used to evaluate the impact of interventions on outcomes such as myocardial infarction and stroke. Several study design components, including blinding, comparator groups, population, outcome variables, and follow-up durations, must be considered in the design and interpretation of a CVOT.