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Painless myocardial ischemia and atherosclerous valvulopathies--their great statistical prevalence
1D. Danielopolu Institute for Normal and Pathological Physiology, Bucharest, Romania.
Insights
Painless myocardial ischemia (PMI) affects 17.49% of patients over 40. Women experience higher PMI rates but have better outcomes than men, who show higher painful ischemic heart disease prevalence.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Internal Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality.
- Understanding the prevalence and characteristics of specific conditions like painless myocardial ischemia and valvulopathies is crucial for patient management.
- Non-invasive investigations are key for diagnosing cardiac conditions in symptomatic patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of painless myocardial ischemia (PMI) and valvulopathies in patients over 40 with cardiovascular complaints.
- To analyze demographic differences in PMI and valvulopathy prevalence and outcomes.
- To investigate associations between ischemic heart disease and valvular pathologies.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 3384 patients over 40 years old.
- Patients presented with overt cardiovascular complaints to a Cardiovascular Laboratory.
- Standard non-invasive investigations were employed for patient assessment.
Main Results:
- Prevalence of PMI was 17.49%; incidence of degenerative aortic and mitral valvulopathies was 15.60%.
- PMI was more prevalent in women, particularly aged 50-59, while painful ischemic heart disease was more common in men.
- Women with PMI had more favorable outcomes than men. Ischemic heart disease frequently co-occurred with mitral regurgitation; elderly patients showed mitral valvulopathy with aortic stenosis.
Conclusions:
- PMI and valvulopathies are significant findings in symptomatic patients over 40.
- Sex-based differences exist in PMI prevalence and outcomes, with women experiencing higher rates but better prognosis.
- Valvular heart disease, including mitral regurgitation and aortic stenosis, frequently coexists with ischemic heart disease, especially in the elderly.
Abstract:
3384 patients over 40 years old referred to our Cardiovascular Laboratory for overt cardiovascular complaints were examined by usual non-invasive investigations. Painless myocardial ischemia (PMI) prevalence was 17.49% and degenerative aortic and mitral valvulopathies incidence was 15.60%. PMI predominate in women especially in the group 50-59 years of age in which painful forms of ischemic heart disease have the highest prevalence in men. Although more affected by painless myocardial ischemia, women show a more favourable outcome than men. Ischemic heart disease was frequently associated with isolated mitral regurgitation. In the elderly patients mitral valvulopathy was associated with calcific aortic stenosis. No significant difference was noted between mitral and aortic valvulopathies prevalence.