Cardiovascular Risk Factors for Calcific Aortic Valve Disease

Abstract

Over the past decade epidemiological studies have revealed the risk factors associated for vascular atherosclerosis, including male gender, smoking, hypertension and elevated serum cholesterol, are similar to the risk factors associated with development of aortic valve stenosis. There is also growing evidence that renal failure is responsible for accelerated vascular calcification. These clinical studies demonstrate that defining these risk factors for this disease may delineate preventive strategies to slow progression and to possibly modify the disease process. In summary, these findings suggest that medical therapies may have a potential role in patients in the early stages of this disease process to slow the progression to severe calcific aortic valve disease and delay the timing to intervention.