Unmet needs in valvular heart disease

European Heart Journal, vol. 44, pp. 1862–1873

Abstract

Valvular heart disease (VHD) is the next epidemic in the cardiovascular field, affecting millions of people worldwide and having a major impact on health care systems. With aging of the population, the incidence and prevalence of VHD will continue to increase. However, VHD has not received the attention it deserves from both the public and policymakers. Despite important advances in the pathophysiology, natural history, management, and treatment of VHD including the development of transcatheter therapies, VHD remains underdiagnosed, identified late, and often undertreated with inequality in access to care and treatment options, and there is no medication that can prevent disease progression. The present review article discusses these gaps in the management of VHD and potential actions to undertake to improve the outcome of patients with VHD.

Authors 11

1. David Messika–Zeitoun corresponding

   Ottawa Heart Institute

   Affiliation as printed

   Division of Cardiology, University of Ottawa Heart Institute , Ottawa, Ontario , Canada

2. Helmut Baumgartner

   University Hospital Münster

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Cardiology III—Adult Congenital and Valvular Heart Disease, University Hospital Muenster , Muenster , Germany

3. Ian G. Burwash

   Ottawa Heart Institute

   Affiliation as printed

   Division of Cardiology, University of Ottawa Heart Institute , Ottawa, Ontario , Canada

4. Alec S. Vahanian

   Université Paris Cité

   Affiliation as printed

   Université Paris Cité , Paris , France

5. Jeroen Joost Bax Aachen Department of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center , Leiden , The Netherlands

6. Philippe Pîbarot

   Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec · Université Laval

   Affiliation as printed

   Division of Cardiology, Québec Heart & Lung Institute—Laval University , Québec, Quebec , Canada

7. Vincent Chan

   Ottawa Heart Institute

   Affiliation as printed

   Division of Cardiac surgery, University of Ottawa Heart Institute , Ottawa, Ontario , Canada

8. Martin B. Leon

   Columbia University Irving Medical Center · Cardiovascular Research Foundation

   Affiliation as printed

   Columbia University Medical Center and Cardiovascular Research Foundation , New York , USA

9. Maurice L. Enriquez-Sarano
   Affiliation as printed

   Minneapolis Heart Institute , Minneapolis, MN , USA

10. Thierry G. Mesana

    Ottawa Heart Institute

    Affiliation as printed

    Division of Cardiac surgery, University of Ottawa Heart Institute , Ottawa , Ontario, Canada

11. Bernard Iung

    Université Paris Cité · Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris · Hôpital Bichat-Claude-Bernard

    Affiliation as printed

    Cardiology Department, Bichat Hospital, APHP, Université Paris Cité , France