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Bicuspid aortic valve: inter-racial difference in frequency and aortic dimensions

Sonal Chandra1, Roberto M Lang, Jeremy Nicolarsen

  • 1Department of Medicine, Section of Cardiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.

JACC. Cardiovascular Imaging
|October 13, 2012
PubMed

Insights

This study found that African-American patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) have smaller aortic dimensions than Caucasian patients, despite having more cardiovascular risk factors. Race may influence BAV disease progression.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Genetics
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a prevalent congenital heart defect.
  • BAV is a leading cause of aortic valve replacement surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate racial disparities in bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) patients.
  • To compare Caucasian (C) and African-American (AA) patients regarding BAV morphology, stenosis/insufficiency severity, and aortic dilation.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 183 patients with BAV from an echocardiographic database.
  • Comprehensive assessment of aortic dimensions, valve morphology and function, and cardiovascular risk factors.
  • Comparison of BAV characteristics between Caucasian and African-American cohorts.

Main Results:

  • BAV is less frequent in African-Americans (0.17%) compared to Caucasians (1.1%).
  • African-American patients were older and had higher hypertension rates.
  • Caucasian patients exhibited significantly larger aortic dimensions (annulus, sinuses of Valsalva, sinotubular junction, ascending aorta) than African-American patients, even after adjusting for comorbidities.

Conclusions:

  • This study highlights significant racial differences in bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) patients.
  • African-American patients with BAV show reduced aortic dimensions despite increased cardiovascular risk factors.
  • Race may act as a disease modifier in the heterogeneous population with BAV.
Abstract

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