Calcific Aortic Stenosis: New Approaches to an Old Disease

Calcific aortic valve disease affects up to 25% of all adults over 65 years of age, with most only having focal valve thickening called aortic sclerosis. However, up to 5% of older adults have significant aortic stenosis (AS) with some degree of obstruction to left ventricular outflow. 1,3,4,5 Once even mild valve obstruction is present, hemodynamic progression is common, leading to severe symptomatic or asymptomatic AS that eventually requires aortic valve replacement in some fashion. 6,7 With our aging population, an increasing number of patients with AS will be presenting for evaluation and care.