Prevalence of calcific aortic valve disease in a large Chinese patient population: providing useful information for transcatheter aortic valve implantation

Abstract

Purpose: To date, little is known about the prevalence of Calcific Aortic Valve Disease (CAVD) in Eastern country. Using a large echocardiographic database, the study sought to analyze the prevalence of Aortic Valve Calcification (AVC) and Calcific Aortic Stenosis (CAS) in Chinese population. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed an echocardiographic database of 287,556 cases in our department from 2004 to 2011. Results: The ratio of AVC increased dramatically with age increasing, from 0.41% in patients <40 years, and 52.32% in patients≥ 65 years to 82.75% in those ≥ 85 years. In patients <65 years, rheumatic disease was the primary cause of aortic vavle stenosis (AS). In patients ≥ 65 years, the primary cause was CAS (about 50%), followed by rheumatic disease. The incidence of CAS in patients≥ 65, 65-84 and ≥ 85 years old was 0.60%, 0.55% and 1.41%, respectively and incidence of severe CAS (SCAS) in patients≥ 65, 65-84 and ≥ 85 years old was 0.17%, 0.16% and 0.34%, respectively (Figure 1). The prevalence rate of CAS in this study population was about 1/3 to 1/2 of that reported from Western community population. ![Figure][1] Figure 1. Incidence of CAS and SCAS. Conclusion: AVC was very common in Chinese elderly population. CAS may be less common and candidates for transcatheter aortic valve implantation may be much fewer in Chinese population as compared with Western population. [1]: pending:yes