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.
Abstract

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