Valvular Heart Disease Epidemiology

Abstract

Valvular heart disease is a rapidly growing cause of global cardiovascular morbidity and mortality with diverse and evolving geographic distribution. The prevalence of rheumatic heart disease, the most common valvular heart disease (affecting approximately 41 million people), has been rising in developing nations, likely due to the expansion of the young adult population and the decrease in premature mortality that has resulted from improved access to antibiotics, microbiological testing, and echocardiography. Rheumatic heart disease has also been rising among the impoverished and, often, indigenous populations of developed nations, spurring public health initiatives that are aimed at alleviating healthcare disparities. Aortic valve stenotic disease is the most commonly occurring valvular pathology in developed nations (afflicting 9 million people worldwide) and its prevalence has been increasing with population aging and the increased prevalence of atherosclerosis. Aortic regurgitation is associated with diastolic, but not systolic, hypertension and it has likewise seen a rise in the developed world. Mitral regurgitation affects 24 million people worldwide, with great variability between and among nations. Primary mitral regurgitation arises as a consequence of myxomatous degeneration and mitral valve prolapse, which is largely due to genetic predispositions, while secondary mitral regurgitation accounts for 65% of cases and arises secondary to dilation and heart failure. Tricuspid regurgitation has become more prevalent in developed nations due to the increased usage of intracardiac pacemakers. Infective endocarditis prevalence has also grown in developed nations, likely due to population aging and the increased utilization of transcatheter valve replacement and prosthetic valves as interventions against the previously discussed valvular pathologies.

The Global Burden of Valvular Heart Disease: From Clinical Epidemiology to Management

“…In the Chinese population, calcific-degenerative AS has a prevalence of 21.9% among patients over 70 years old [ 19 ]. Rheumatic AS is frequently encountered in Asia, with a reported prevalence of 4.54 in India, 1.86 in China, and 1.3 in Bangladesh per 1000 persons [ 2 ]. A non-negligible percentage of patients with AS may have concomitant cardiac amyloidosis, commonly due to wild-type transthyretin [ 20 ].…”

“…Despite the growing interest, global epidemiological data are lacking, with national screening studies revealing different prevalences: almost 4% of people >75 years old have a clinically relevant TR [ 79 ]. In the UK, 2.7% of older individuals were found to have moderate–severe TR, and in China, the prevalence was only 1.1% among patients of a similar age [ 2 ].…”

“…VHD is a major contributor to the loss of physical disability and worsening quality of life, representing a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide [ 1 ]. The comprehension of the geographical and temporal trends and changes in VHD epidemiology are crucial for advances in clinical practice and the development of effective health policy for primary and secondary prevention [ 2 ]. Although population-based studies are a suitable methodology for investigating the prevalence of a disease, in the context of VHD, they require complete echocardiographic examinations in a large sample that is well representative of the population.…”

Clinical Utility of Three-Dimensional Echocardiography in the Evaluation of Mitral Valve Disease: Tips and Tricks

“…Real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) is a new valuable imaging tool for studying the mitral valve (MV) anatomy in each plane orientation [ 1 , 2 ]. Mitral regurgitation (MR) is one of the most common valve disease, and its prevalence increases with age [ 3 ].…”

Curcumin Involve the Myofibrosis Process of Rabbit Valve Interstitial Cells based on Expression Alpha- Smooth Muscle Actin: Experimental Posttest-only Control Group Design

“…Reflecting the distribution of the disease, rheumatic heart disease remains the most common manifestation of VHD worldwide. 1 The heart valve composition consists of valve endothelial cells (VEC) and valve interstitial cells (VIC) and functions to maintain valve homeostasis and the integrity of the leaflet structure. VIC, which is the most abundant cell type in heart valves, plays a key role in the process of heart valve diseases, one of which is the differentiation of valvular myofibrosis.…”