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Detection rate of heart murmurs

More than 40% of heart murmurs — detected with a stethoscope and sometimes the first sign of heart valve disease (HVD) — are missed by family practitioners.

Competency in Cardiac Examination Skills in Medical Students, Trainees, Physicians, and Faculty. Archives of Internal Medicine. 2006; 166(12). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16567598

Reference

Title
Competency in Cardiac Examination Skills in Medical Students, Trainees, Physicians, and Faculty
Publication
Archives of Internal Medicine
Publication Date
2006
Volume & Issue
Volume 166, Issue 12
URL
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Categories

  • Cost of Disease
  • Prevalence & Incidence
  • Human Burden

Publications

Aortic Stenosis Fact Sheet

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Aortic Stenosis

Undertreatment of patients with sSAS

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Many cases of HVD are diagnosed during a routine physical check-up

Six in 10 patients did not have or recognize symptoms of heart valve disease (HVD) and were only diagnosed after going to their doctor for a regular check-up or a visit for something else.

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HVD patients knew little prior to their diagnosis

More than 2/3 of valve disease patients knew a limited amount or nothing about heart valve disease (HVD) before their diagnosis.

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Many Americans know nothing about HVD

Of those Americans surveyed ages 65+, 30% know nothing about heart valve disease (HVD).

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American knowledge of HVD

A survey of Americans found that only 1 in 4 know “somewhat” or a “great deal” about heart valve disease (HVD). Forty percent know nothing about the disease.

Aortic Stenosis

Projections of Significant Heart Valve Disease — Diagnosed & Undiagnosed — in the 65+ U.K. Population

Future Economic Burden

Related Facts

  • Detection rate of heart murmurs
    More than 40% of heart murmurs — detected with a stethoscope and sometimes the first sign of heart valve disease (HVD) — are missed by family practitioners.  
  • Medicare patients with sSAS have an average lifespan of 1.8 years without repair or replacement
     
  • 2016 prevalence of aortic valve disease in America
    In 2016, as many as 5.8 million U.S. adults had aortic valve disease (AVD). Note: Alliance for Aging Research generated statistic, based on 2005 percentage prevalence estimates by Bach et al. 2007  
  • Low detection rates for AS
    Prevalence estimates for AS are likely low. A U.K. population screening found previously undetected HVD in 1 in 2 adults ages 65+.  
  • 1 and 6-month mortality rates without treatment for sSAS
    Waiting for treatment for severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (sSAS) can be deadly, with 1-month mortality at 3.7% and 6-month mortality at 11.6% (measured from the time intervention was recommended).