Aortic stenosis epidemiology and demographics


 * Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Mohammed A. Sbeih, M.D. [mailto:msbeih@perfuse.org]; ; Assistant Editor-In-Chief: Kristin Feeney, B.S. [mailto:kfeeney@perfuse.org]

Overview
Aortic stenosis is a major health problem primarily affecting older adults and majority is due to calcific degeneration. Aortic stenosis tends to affect approximately 2% of patients over the age of 65, 3% the age of 75, and 4% over the age 85.

Epidemiology and Demographics
Based on the results from the EuroHeart Failure survey programme, 4.8% of patients with acute coronary syndrome enrolled had significant valve disease, in particular ischemic mitral regurgitation and calcific aortic stenosis and were associated with poor prognosis.

Age
The prevalence of aortic stenosis increases with age. Less than 1% of all live births exhibit symptoms of severe aortic stenosis. Approximately 2% of patients over the age of 65, 3% over the age of 75, and 4% over the age of 85 have aortic stenosis. The Helsinki Ageing study evaluated 552 patients with aortic valve disease, of which 53% were reported to have calcified aortic valves and the prevalence of critical aortic valve stenosis (aortic valve area = less than 1.2 cm2) was observed to be 2.9% among the 75 to 86 years age group.

Gender
Calcific degenerative aortic stenosis is more common in males.

Developed Countries
In North America and Europe, a linear relationship exists between an aging population and an increase in the incidence of aortic stenosis.