Cardiovascular

Aortic Stenosis is a type of valve disease that mainly occurs in the elderly and is characterized by a narrowing of the aortic valve opening, increasing resistance to blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta. While up to 1.5 million people in the U.S. suffer from Aortic Stenosis, approximately 500,000 within this group of patients suffer from Severe Aortic Stenosis, and only half of those patients show symptoms of their condition being severe. Severe Aortic Stenosis usually occurs in patients older than 75 years of age.

Aortic Stenosis Disease Prevalence & Treatment

Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death, killing more than 600,000 Americans each year.

• According to the American Heart Association, more than five million Americans are diagnosed with heart valve disease each year.
• Heart valve disease can occur in any single valve or a combination of the four valves, but diseases of the aortic and mitral valves are the most common, affecting more than five percent of the population.
• While up to 1.5 million people in the U.S. suffer from AS, approximately 500,000 within this group of patients suffer from severe AS. An estimated 250,000 patients with severe AS are symptomatic.
• An echocardiogram (echo) is the primary imaging test used to diagnose severe AS.
• Without an aortic valve replacement (AVR), 50 percent of patients will not survive more than an average of two years after the onset of symptoms.

Diagnosis of Severe Aortic Stenosis

Heart valve disease may be suspected if the heart sounds heard through a stethoscope are abnormal. This is usually the first step in diagnosing a heart valve disease. A characteristic heart murmur (abnormal sounds in the heart due to turbulent blood flow across the valve) can often indicate valve regurgitation or stenosis. To further define the type of valve disease and extent of the valve damage, physicians may use any of the following diagnostic procedures:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)- a test that records the electrical activity of the heart, shows abnormal rhythms (arrhythmias or dysrhythmias), and detects heart muscle damage.
• Echocardiogram (echo)- a noninvasive test that uses sound waves to produce a study of the motion of the heart’s chambers and valves. The echo sound waves create an image on the monitor as an ultrasound transducer is passed over the heart.
• Chest x-ray – a diagnostic test which uses invisible electromagnetic energy beams to produce images of internal tissues, bones, and organs onto film. An x-ray can show enlargement in any area of the heart.
• Cardiac catheterization – this diagnostic procedure involves a tiny, hollow tube (catheter) being inserted into an artery leading to the heart in order to image the heart and blood vessels. This procedure is helpful in determining the type and extent of valve blockage.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)- a diagnostic procedure that uses a combination of large magnets, radiofrequencies, and a computer to produce detailed images of organs and structures within the body.