Nihar Desai, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Medicine (Cardiovascular Medicine)Cards
About
Titles
Associate Professor of Medicine (Cardiovascular Medicine)
Biography
Nihar R. Desai, MD, MPH is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Vice Chief of the Section of Cardiovascular Medicine at Yale University School of Medicine, an Investigator at the Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, and Executive Director for Bundled Payments and Clinical Service Line Operations at the Yale New Haven Health System. His interests focus on cardiovascular health services and comparative effectiveness research, examining patterns of care, identifying opportunities to improve clinical outcomes, and evaluating the impact of novel care delivery systems on cost and quality. In addition, he serves as a clinical consultant on the CMS acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, and coronary artery bypass graft surgery readmission and mortality measures. He graduated with highest honors from Lehigh University before completing an internship in the Clinton White House. He then attended the University of Connecticut School of Medicine where he received his Doctorate in Medicine and the Harvard School of Public Health where he received his Master’s in Public Health. Dr. Desai completed his residency training in Internal Medicine as well as his clinical fellowship in Cardiovascular Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. He then completed a research fellowship at the TIMI Study Group with Dr. Eugene Braunwald. His scholarly work has been published in New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of the American Medical Association, Circulation, and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Last Updated on April 07, 2025.
Appointments
Cardiovascular Medicine
Associate Professor on TermPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Center for Outcomes Research & Evaluation (CORE)
- Clinical and Translational Research Accelerator (CTRA)
- Internal Medicine
- Yale Medicine
- Yale New Haven Health System
- Yale Ventures
- Yale-BI Biomedical Data Science Fellowship
Education & Training
- Fellowship
- Brigham & Women's Hospital (2013)
- Residency
- Brigham & Women's Hospital (2009)
- MD
- University of Connecticut School of Medicine (2006)
- MPH
- Harvard School of Public Health (2005)
Research
Publications
2026
PCSK9 Inhibitors Are Associated With Improved Amputation-free Survival After Lower Extremity Revascularization
Wells N, Cross J, Badusi P, Carter W, Possick S, Tonnessen B, Cardella J, Guzman R, Desai N, Chaar C. PCSK9 Inhibitors Are Associated With Improved Amputation-free Survival After Lower Extremity Revascularization. Journal Of Vascular Surgery 2026, 84: e71-e72. DOI: 10.1016/j.jvs.2026.03.552.Peer-Reviewed Original Research2650-P: Multiorgan Magnetic Resonance–Based Imaging Improves Risk Stratification and Supports Treatment Allocation in Individuals with Clinical Obesity
JACKSON E, KAILAYANATHAN T, BREARS H, HARHAY M, CASTRO L, DINANI A, DESAI N, SAMALA N, DAVIES M, CUTHBERTSON D, ALMANDOZ J, BANERJEE A. 2650-P: Multiorgan Magnetic Resonance–Based Imaging Improves Risk Stratification and Supports Treatment Allocation in Individuals with Clinical Obesity. Diabetes 2026, 75 DOI: 10.2337/db26-2650-p.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchStratification of individualsObesity-related health outcomesRisk of incident T2DIncident type 2 diabetesClinical obesityUK Biobank participantsClinical measuresPoor cardiometabolic outcomesPeople at-riskImaging-derived phenotypesLow skeletal muscleAll-Cause MortalityBMI-based criteriaNational InstituteNational Institutes of HealthTreatment allocationLiver eventsIncident T2DBiobank participantsHealth outcomesAddition of informationUK BiobankIncident hospitalisationCardiometabolic outcomesInstitutes of Health129 Real-World Effectiveness of Evolocumab in Reducing Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease
Jin R, Hurwitz K, Kent S, Jackman L, Dhalwani N, Accortt N, Brookhart M, Head L, Desai N, Lai E. 129 Real-World Effectiveness of Evolocumab in Reducing Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease. Journal Of Clinical Lipidology 2026, 20: e76-e77. DOI: 10.1016/j.jacl.2026.05.112.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAtherosclerotic cardiovascular diseaseEffects of evolocumabRandomized Controlled TrialsAdverse cardiovascular eventsNon-treated cohortComposite MACEReal-world effectivenessCardiovascular eventsInitial prescriptionHistory of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseaseFurther Cardiovascular Outcomes ResearchCardiovascular diseaseLow riskInverse probabilityClinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseaseMajor adverse cardiovascular eventsReal world clinical practiceNon-treated patientsFollow-up periodInverse probability of treatmentCardiovascular Outcomes ResearchProbability of treatmentReal-world studyMethods PatientsReal-world settings265 Clinical and Economic Burden of Adding Ezetimibe or PCSK9i Therapy in Patients with Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease
Desai N, Bash L, Watanabe A, Eutsler J, Galvain T, McQueen R. 265 Clinical and Economic Burden of Adding Ezetimibe or PCSK9i Therapy in Patients with Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease. Journal Of Clinical Lipidology 2026, 20: e47-e48. DOI: 10.1016/j.jacl.2026.05.074.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchProprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9Lipid-lowering treatmentAtherosclerotic cardiovascular diseaseProprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitorsAtherosclerotic cardiovascular disease eventsLDL-C goalsLDL-CEffective lipid-lowering treatmentLDL-C target achievementMaximally tolerated statinCardiovascular diseaseLDL-C targetLow-density lipoprotein cholesterolAdd-on treatmentHealthcare costsEconomic burdenTolerated statinsPCSK9i therapyHealth system perspectiveResults PatientsLipoprotein cholesterolClinical eventsEzetimibeType 9Statins127 Risk of Major Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Events in the United States Among Individuals With and Without Prior Events
Desai N, Ke X, Holub A, Done N, Song Y, Galvain T, Rajpathak S, McQueen R. 127 Risk of Major Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Events in the United States Among Individuals With and Without Prior Events. Journal Of Clinical Lipidology 2026, 20: e38. DOI: 10.1016/j.jacl.2026.05.060.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAtherosclerotic cardiovascular disease eventsCardiovascular disease eventsAtherosclerotic cardiovascular diseaseDisease eventsAt-risk adultsUnited States adultsHigh riskRisk of cardiovascular disease eventsRisk reduction strategiesLow-density lipoprotein cholesterolCV risk reduction strategiesRetrospective cohort studyData Mart DatabaseASCVD eventsCohort studyASCVD riskAt-riskCardiovascular epidemicMedian agePooled cohortCardiovascular diseaseCumulative incidenceLDL-CLipoprotein cholesterolAdults159 Comparative Cardiovascular Outcomes of Enlicitide versus Ezetimibe in Patients with Hypercholesterolemia: A Simulation Model Analysis
Desai N, Galvain T, Meng Y, Patil D, Brand-Wiita S, Eutsler J, Rajpathak S, McQueen R. 159 Comparative Cardiovascular Outcomes of Enlicitide versus Ezetimibe in Patients with Hypercholesterolemia: A Simulation Model Analysis. Journal Of Clinical Lipidology 2026, 20: e78. DOI: 10.1016/j.jacl.2026.05.115.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAtherosclerotic cardiovascular diseaseProprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9Compare cardiovascular outcomesAtherosclerotic cardiovascular disease eventsLDL-CDecision analytic modelCardiovascular outcomesStatin therapyAdd-on therapy to statinsAdd-on to statin therapyASCVD riskLipid-lowering therapy intensificationPhase III trial dataLow-density lipoprotein cholesterolLDL-C reductionNon-fatal cardiovascular eventsInhibitors of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9Phase 3 trialAll-Cause MortalityState-transition Markov modelLifetime time horizonStatin monotherapyTherapy intensificationComparative effectivenessClinical decision-making168 VICTORION-INCEPTION: Early and Sustained LDL-C Goal Attainment with Inclisiran Plus Usual Care in Participants with Recent Acute Coronary Syndrome
Desai N, Knowlton K, Anderson J, Muhlestein J, Sarwat S, Ramirez M, Grines C, Abo-Auda W, Brown A. 168 VICTORION-INCEPTION: Early and Sustained LDL-C Goal Attainment with Inclisiran Plus Usual Care in Participants with Recent Acute Coronary Syndrome. Journal Of Clinical Lipidology 2026, 20: e106. DOI: 10.1016/j.jacl.2026.05.162.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchUsual careLDL-C goal attainmentGoal attainmentAcute coronary syndromePlus usual careLDL-CGuideline-directed managementHigh-intensity statinsCoronary syndromeLow-density lipoprotein cholesterolCareRandomized participantsLDL-C goalsLDL-C <ParticipantsLipoprotein cholesterolPhase 3b trialAttainmentInclisiranTime pointsSubgroupsObjective/purposeSyndromePotential role139 LDL-C Lowering with Inclisiran After Acute Coronary Syndrome: Analysis of Treatment Effect Heterogeneity in VICTORION-INCEPTION
Desai N, Sarwat S, Brown A, Anderson J, Muhlestein J, Ramirez M, Knowlton K. 139 LDL-C Lowering with Inclisiran After Acute Coronary Syndrome: Analysis of Treatment Effect Heterogeneity in VICTORION-INCEPTION. Journal Of Clinical Lipidology 2026, 20: e101-e102. DOI: 10.1016/j.jacl.2026.05.153.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchUsual careGlobal p-valueBody mass indexLow evidenceP-valueIndex myocardial infarctionLDL-CAcute coronary syndromeTreatment effect heterogeneityHighest importance scoresMyocardial infarctionMultiple baseline covariatesEffect heterogeneityCoronary syndromeLow-density lipoprotein cholesterolCareMass indexDemographic characteristicsGoal attainmentLDL-C <Baseline covariatesStatin intensitySubgroup analysisLipoprotein cholesterolEvidence of treatment effect heterogeneity169 Treatment Satisfaction with Inclisiran Plus Usual Care vs. Usual Care Alone in Participants with Recent Acute Coronary Syndrome in VICTORION-INCEPTION
Desai N, Knowlton K, Brown A, Muhlestein J, Sarwat S, Ramirez M, Anderson J. 169 Treatment Satisfaction with Inclisiran Plus Usual Care vs. Usual Care Alone in Participants with Recent Acute Coronary Syndrome in VICTORION-INCEPTION. Journal Of Clinical Lipidology 2026, 20: e107. DOI: 10.1016/j.jacl.2026.05.163.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchUsual careTreatment satisfactionAcute coronary syndromePatient-reported treatment satisfactionPlus usual careLong-term treatment adherencePatient-reported satisfactionTreatment Satisfaction QuestionnaireCoronary syndromeMedication nonadherenceLow-density lipoprotein cholesterolSatisfaction questionnaireCareTreatment adherenceGlobal satisfactionBaseline to dayLipoprotein cholesterolTSQM-IISatisfactionParticipantsMedian ageLDL-CMedicationMultiple domainsSide effectsHealthcare utilization and health expenditures among U.S. adults by cancer and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease status.
Mansur Z, Mszar R, Cueva G, Barac A, Spatz E, Desai N, Rana J, Nasir K. Healthcare utilization and health expenditures among U.S. adults by cancer and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease status. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2026, 44: e23191-e23191. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2026.44.16_suppl.e23191.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPopulation of cancer survivorsOffice-based visitsHealthcare utilizationAtherosclerotic cardiovascular diseaseHealth expenditureCancer survivorsSelf-reported cancerMedical Expenditure Panel SurveyHealthcare utilization outcomesPrescription medication useConfidence intervalsSources of careEmergency department visitsCardiometabolic risk factorsCardiovascular disease statusMultivariate logistic regression modelLogistic regression modelsNoncancer comorbiditiesUtilization outcomesRisk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseaseDepartment visitsSociodemographic characteristicsU.S. adultsPrescription medicationsHealthcare expenditures
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
Pragmatic Trial Of Alerts for Use of Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists (PROMPT-MRA)
IRB ID2000030513RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/01/2023Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge18+ years
Clinical Care
Overview
Nihar Desai, MD, MPH, is a cardiovascular medicine specialist, treating patients with complex cardiovascular conditions, including acute coronary syndromes, heart failure, valvular heart disease, and arrhythmias.
Dr. Desai’s research explores opportunities to improve the quality of care, the impact of decision support tools on care patterns, and how different models of care affect quality, outcomes, and cost of care. He leads clinical trials and real world studies using administrative and clinical datasets to conduct hypothesis driven research of importance to patients, providers, payers, and policymakers.
Dr. Desai is an associate professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine.
Clinical Specialties
Internal Medicine; Cardiovascular Medicine
News
News
- October 24, 2024
New Analytics Center for Cardiovascular Medicine
- July 24, 2024
Yale Department of Internal Medicine Faculty Promotions and Appointments (July 2024)
- April 01, 2024
Yale Faculty Present Groundbreaking Clinical Research at the 2024 American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions
- March 29, 2024Source: The New York Times
Heart Pump Is Linked to 49 Deaths, the F.D.A. Warns
Get In Touch
Contacts
Email
Academic Office Number
Mailing Address
Cardiovascular Medicine
15 York Street, PO Box 208017
New Haven, CT 06520-8017
United States
Administrative Support
Locations
Patient Care Locations
Are You a Patient? View this doctor's clinical profile on the Yale Medicine website for information about the services we offer and making an appointment.