Aortic Valve Regurgitation

Aortic valve regurgitation

Aortic valve regurgitation Aortic valve regurgitation can develop suddenly or over decades. Once aortic valve regurgitation becomes severe, surgery is often required to repair or replace the aortic valve. The leakage may prevent your heart from efficiently pumping blood to the rest of your body. As a result, you may feel fatigued and short of breath.

Symptoms

People with severe aortic regurgitation may notice palpitations because the left ventricle enlarges and eventually contracts more forcefully. Over time, the back-up and resulting changes to the heart as it compensates can lead to heart failure. Mild aortic regurgitation may be treatable with medications to prevent stroke or medications that help maintain the heart’s pumping rhythm, but surgical repairs are usually required in more severe cases.

Statistics

The prevalence in the Australia of any valve regurgitation disease is 1.5%. Of those with valve disease about 0.85% has Aortic valve regurgitation. The prevalence of moderate or severe Aortic valve regurgitation in patients more than 65 years old is 1.8%. It is the most common valvular heart disease of the elderly and increases with age. The prevalence is 2.3% at age 75 years and 6.1% at 85 years.