The AHA’s New Policy Makes One Thing Clear: Cardiovascular Genetics Is Now a Standard of Care
February 17, 2026
In November, the American Heart Association (AHA) released an updated Policy Statement on Genetic and Genomic Testing in Cardiovascular Disease—a major directive confirming that genetic testing is no longer optional or supplementary in cardiovascular care. Instead, it is now positioned as a core clinical expectation for improving diagnosis, risk stratification, and family management across inherited cardiovascular conditions.2
The new policy underscores the need for health systems to implement genetic testing at scale, with reliable access, consistent workflows, and equitable delivery.2 This represents a shift from relying on individual clinicians to make case-by-case decisions toward building system-level genetic testing programs.
While the policy focuses on infrastructure, access, and system readiness, its recommendations are firmly grounded in extensive scientific evidence demonstrating the clinical utility of genetic testing in cardiology.1,2
Moving into a New Era
The November policy emphasizes several key expectations for modern cardiovascular programs:
1. Genetic testing should be integrated into routine cardiovascular care—not used selectively.
The AHA states that genetic testing has broad utility across inherited cardiac conditions and must be embedded into standard workflows.2
2. Health systems need sustainable, scalable approaches.
Rather than episodic test ordering, the policy calls for the development of structured genetic testing pathways supported by appropriate staffing, access to genetic counseling, and clear follow-up processes.2
3. Equitable access is a priority.
The AHA explicitly ties cardiovascular genetics to health equity, urging systems to remove barriers such as cost, geographic access, and inconsistent reimbursement.2
4. Multidisciplinary collaboration is essential.
Genetics, cardiology, primary care, and other disciplines must work together to ensure appropriate test selection, result interpretation, and long-term family management.2
These policy elements set a clear direction: cardiovascular genetics is now fundamental infrastructure, not a supplemental specialty service.
Why This Policy Matters: The Science Is Unambiguous
Although the November policy focuses on system implementation, it is strongly supported by the AHA’s prior Scientific Statement on Genetic Testing for Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases.1
This statement provides the clinical rationale behind the policy—highlighting why genetic testing is critical across inherited cardiac conditions.
Key scientific insights include:
Genetic testing improves diagnosis and clarifies etiology.
Scientific evidence shows that genetic testing helps identify inherited cardiomyopathies, arrhythmia syndromes, thoracic aortic disease, and familial hypercholesterolemia—often when phenotypes are ambiguous.1,2
Family screening changes outcomes.
The scientific statement emphasizes the importance of identifying the correct proband, performing cascade testing, and detecting genotype-positive/phenotype-negative relatives.1
Results must be paired with genetic counseling and proper interpretation.
The AHA stresses rigorous phenotyping and structured communication of results to ensure patients and families understand the implications.1
Together, these scientific foundations explain why the November policy elevates cardiovascular genetics from valuable to essential.
How These Updated Expectations Apply Across Inherited Cardiovascular Conditions
The November AHA policy encourages cardiology programs to align operations with evidence-based testing strategies. Below are the major clinical categories affected, along with select PreventionGenetics panels that support guideline-aligned care.
Heritable Aortopathies: Early Identification Matters
The policy highlights the need for systems that can support testing for thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection—conditions where early detection dramatically alters surveillance and surgical timing.
Scientific evidence reinforces that genetic insights guide intervention strategies and family screening.1
Marfan Syndrome and Related Aortopathies Panel
Inherited Arrhythmia Syndromes: Managing High-Risk Patients
The AHA policy references strong evidence supporting genetic testing for arrhythmic conditions, and the scientific statement outlines its importance for Long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, CPVT, and related disorders.1,2
Cardiac Arrhythmia Panel
Comprehensive Arrhythmia and Cardiomyopathy Panel (for mixed phenotypes)
Cardiomyopathies: Genetics Shapes Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Family Care
Cardiomyopathies are among the highest-impact areas for genetic testing according to both the policy and the scientific literature.1,2
Programs must ensure testing pathways are in place for patients with hypertrophic, dilated, arrhythmogenic, or restrictive presentations.
Familial Lipid Disorders: Precision Risk Assessment
The new policy acknowledges inherited lipid disorders as key use cases for genetic testing, supported by scientific evidence showing improved diagnosis and cascade testing for familial hypercholesterolemia.2
Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) Panel
Building Programs That Match the New AHA Expectations
According to the November policy, building robust cardiovascular genetics workflows requires:
- Clear testing protocols aligned with clinical indications2
- Reliable access to genetic counseling and appropriate followup2
- Consistent systems for family outreach and cascade testing 1,2
- Cross-disciplinary roles and responsibilities that support sustainability2
These elements move cardiovascular genetics from “ad hoc” decisions to a true standard of care.
Conclusion: The AHA’s Policy Is a Call to Action
The November AHA policy makes a decisive statement:
Genetic testing is essential, foundational, and must be integrated into everyday cardiovascular practice.2
Backed by years of detailed scientific research on inherited cardiac conditions, this policy represents a turning point for clinical implementation. As cardiology programs adapt to these expectations, aligned genetic testing workflows—including those designed for aortopathies, arrhythmias, cardiomyopathies, and lipid disorders—will play a significant role in advancing patient and family outcomes.
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