Full Answer
What is valvular heart disease? Valvular heart disease is when any valve in the heart has damage or is diseased. There are several causes of valve disease. The normal heart has four chambers (right and left atria, and right and left ventricles) and four valves (Figure 1).
The other common type of heart valve condition happens when the opening of the valve is narrowed and stiff and the valve is not able to open fully when blood is trying to pass through; this is called stenosis (Figure 2). Sometimes the valve may be missing a leaflet—this more commonly involves the aortic valve.
About 13% of people born before 1943 have valvular heart disease. 1 Rheumatic heart disease most commonly affects the mitral valve (which has only two leaflets; Figure 2) or the aortic valve, but any valve can be affected, and more than one can be involved.
In 2017, there were 3,046 deaths due to rheumatic valvular heart disease and 24,811 deaths due to non-rheumatic valvular heart disease in the United States. 2 Nearly 25,000 deaths in the U.S. each year are due to heart valve disease from causes other than rheumatic disease. 2
Aortic stenosis (AS), organic and ischemic (functional) mitral regurgitation, and tricuspid regurgitation are the most common valvular disorders in older adults.
Degenerative valve disease is the most common form of valvular heart disease in the United States, whereas rheumatic heart disease accounts for most valve pathology in developing nations. As the US population ages, physicians are likely to see more patients with degenerative valve disorders.
Degenerative aortic valve disease affects over 25% of all patients over the age of 65. Most patients have only mild thickening and normal valve function, called aortic sclerosis.
The main cause of mitral valve stenosis is an infection called rheumatic fever, which is related to strep infections. Rheumatic fever — now rare in the United States, but still common in developing countries — can scar the mitral valve. Left untreated, mitral valve stenosis can lead to serious heart complications.
In heart valve disease, one or more of the valves in your heart doesn't work properly. Your heart has four valves that keep blood flowing in the correct direction. In some cases, one or more of the valves don't open or close properly. This can cause the blood flow through your heart to your body to be disrupted.
Types of valvular heart diseaseValvular stenosis (narrowing) The stiffening of heart valves can narrow the size of the valve opening and restrict blood flow. ... Valvular prolapse (slipping out of place) Prolapse is a condition when the valve flaps (leaflets) slip out of place or form a bulge. ... Regurgitation (leaking)
Normal aging causes your heart and blood vessels to stiffen, which can lead to these conditions in later years. For people older than 75, high blood pressure is the most common heart condition. Coronary artery disease and heart failure are next.
A leaking heart valve in elderly people is one of the common heart valve disorders. Also known as Mitral Valve Regurgitation, a leaky valve does not close properly which allows blood to leak through.
The aortic and mitral valves most often are affected. A plausible explanation for the mitral valve being commonly affected by rheumatic disease could be the mitral valve is located on the left side of the heart, furthermore the stress on a valve is maximum during the valve closure.
Mitral valve disease is a problem with the valve located between the left heart chambers (left atrium and left ventricle). Mitral valve disease includes: Mitral valve regurgitation. The mitral valve flaps (leaflets) may not close tightly, causing blood to leak backward.
In severe mitral valve regurgitation, the heart has to work harder to pump enough blood to the body. The extra effort causes the left lower heart chamber (ventricle) to get bigger. Untreated, the heart muscle becomes weak. This can cause heart failure.
Common heart valve disease causes include: Rheumatic fever from strep throat that wasn't treated. Heart attack that damages your heart. High blood pressure (advanced).
The prevalence of valvular heart disease (VHD) in the United States was estimated to be approximately 2.5% in the 1990s. The prevalence currently is thought to be increasing because of more accurate diagnostic methods and aging of the population.
Mitral regurgitation (MR) is the most common valve defect, followed by aortic stenosis (AS) and aortic regurgitation (AR). Degenerative disease is the most common etiology of MR, AS, and AR, though these forms of VHD also can be caused by congenital valve defects, systemic inflammatory diseases, endocarditis, and many other conditions. ...