Risk Factors for Calcific Aortic Valve Disease in Afghan Population

Abstract

Objective Evidence from previous studies suggests that calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is not an unavoidable consequence of aging, and may be linked to explicit risk factors. However, little is known regarding the Afghan population in this context. The current study aimed to identify the clinical features of CAVD and determine independent risk factors for CAVD in the Afghan population. Patients and Methods A case-control study was conducted among 1072 Afghan participants (age >18 years) from January 2018 to December 2020. The study participants were divided into two groups based on echocardiographic findings: 536 individuals with CAVD and 536 age- and sex-matched controls. Data were collected using questionnaires from the medical records of all cases and controls. The independent predictors of CAVD were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results The mean age of study participants was 65.3 ± 13.5 years (range, 20–100 years). Of the 536 patients with CAVD, 77 (14.4%) had aortic valve stenosis, 415 (77.4%) had aortic valve calcification, and 44 (8.2%) had bicuspid aortic valve. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that sedentary lifestyle (odds ratio [OR] = 2.517, p = 003), diabetes mellitus (DM) (OR = 1.902, p = 006), high body mass index (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m 2 ) (OR = 1.776, p = 005), good socioeconomic status (OR = 1.724, p = 021), and hypertension (OR = 1.664, p ˂0.001) were independent risk factors for CAVD in the Afghan population. Conclusion It was observed that sedentary lifestyle, diabetes mellitus, high BMI (≥ 30 kg/m 2 ), good socioeconomic status, and hypertension are independent risk factors for the development of CAVD compared to those with a normal aortic valve in the Afghan population.

Insights into calcific aortic valve stenosis: a comprehensive overview of the disease and advancing treatment strategies

“…Another approach, known as PET-MDCT, combines anatomical and molecular imaging to evaluate the uptake of 18F-sodium fluoride by valvular tissue, which reveals the presence of active mineralization processes within the valve. This predicts the progression of AS and correlates with the severity of the condition 16 . Emerging blood biomarkers, including high-sensitivity cardiac troponin, growth/differentiation factor 15, ST2 protein, and miRNAs, also have the potential to identify myocardial dysfunction, although further research is required to determine their relevance beyond that of already established indicators 11 .…”

“…The disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) related to CAVD increased by 101% between 1990 and 2017. High-income areas, including Western Europe, the United States, Canada, Chile, Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand, had the highest death rates 16 .…”

“…A noteworthy difference between those with bicuspid and tricuspid valves is that people with bicuspid valves frequently develop CAVD one to two decades earlier 15 . With a prevalence of 1841 per 100 000 individuals worldwide in 2017 for men aged at least 70 years, it is noteworthy that men are disproportionately afflicted 16 .…”