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Clinical factors associated with calcific aortic valve disease. Cardiovascular Health Study
B F Stewart1, D Siscovick, B K Lind
1Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle 98195-6422, USA.
Insights
Degenerative aortic valve disease, including aortic sclerosis and stenosis, affects a significant portion of the elderly. Key risk factors include increasing age, male gender, smoking, and hypertension.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Geriatrics
- Valvular Heart Disease
Background:
- Degenerative aortic valve disease is increasingly recognized as a distinct clinical entity, not solely a consequence of aging.
- Evidence suggests specific clinical factors contribute to its development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of aortic sclerosis and stenosis in an elderly population.
- To identify clinical factors associated with degenerative aortic valve disease.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 5,201 subjects aged 65 years and older from the Cardiovascular Health Study.
- Utilized echocardiography to identify aortic sclerosis or stenosis.
- Employed stepwise logistic regression to evaluate associations with clinical risk factors for atherosclerosis.
Main Results:
- Aortic valve sclerosis was found in 26% of the cohort (37% in those >= 75 years), and stenosis in 2% (2.6% in those >= 75 years).
- Independent risk factors included advanced age, male gender, current smoking, and a history of hypertension.
- Height, elevated lipoprotein(a), and high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were also significant factors.
Conclusions:
- Clinical factors associated with aortic sclerosis and stenosis can be identified in the elderly.
- These identified factors are comparable to known risk factors for atherosclerosis.
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of aortic sclerosis and stenosis in the elderly and to identify clinical factors associated with degenerative aortic valve disease.
Background:
Several lines of evidence suggest that degenerative aortic valve disease is not an inevitable consequence of aging and may be associated with specific clinical factors.
Methods:
In 5,201 subjects > or = 65 years of age enrolled in the Cardiovascular Health Study, the relation between aortic sclerosis or stenosis identified on echocardiography and clinical risk factors for atherosclerosis was evaluated by using stepwise logistic regression analysis.
Results:
Aortic valve sclerosis was present in 26% and aortic valve stenosis in 2% of the entire study cohort; in subjects > or = 75 years of age, sclerosis was present in 37% and stenosis in 2.6%. Independent clinical factors associated with degenerative aortic valve disease included age (twofold increased risk for each 10-year increase in age), male gender (twofold excess risk), present smoking (35% increase in risk) and a history of hypertension (20% increase in risk). Other significant factors included height and high lipoprotein(a) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.
Conclusions:
Clinical factors associated with aortic sclerosis and stenosis can be identified and are similar to risk factors for atherosclerosis.
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