Risk factors for degenerative aortic valve disease in India: A case control study.

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Epidemiology
• Genetics

Background:

• Degenerative aortic valve disease frequently co-occurs with coronary artery disease (CAD).
• Western studies indicate shared risk factors between aortic valve disease and CAD.
• Limited data exists on these risk factors within the Asian Indian population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in Asian Indians with degenerative aortic valve disease.
• To identify specific risk factors associated with aortic stenosis in this demographic.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 91 patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing left heart catheterization was studied.
• Patients were compared to age- and sex-matched controls from a database of 3200 patients.
• Assessed risk factors included age, gender, family history of CAD, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia.

Main Results:

• Smoking, family history of CAD, and hypercholesterolemia were more common in AS patients.
• Diabetes mellitus showed no significant difference between groups.
• Multivariate analysis revealed independent associations between AS and family history of premature CAD, smoking, and elevated LDL levels.

Conclusions:

• Cardiovascular risk factors are significantly associated with aortic stenosis in Asian Indian patients.
• These associations are independent of age and gender.
• Findings highlight the importance of addressing these risk factors in preventing AS in this population.