Severe Aortic Stenosis Won’t Wait. Neither Should You

Aortic stenosis is a progressive disease in which the valve leaflets become stiff reducing their ability to fully open and close. When this happens, you heart must work harder to push blood through the aortic valve and to your body. This may cause some people to experience uncomfortable symptoms, which may include shortness of breath or chest pain. Once your aortic stenosis becomes severe and you have symptoms, it is important to get treatment.

If you’ve been told you have severe aortic stenosis, don’t wait until the disease completely disrupts your life before treating it.

Here are some of the top reasons severe aortic stenosis is dangerous:

  • By the time it is found in many patients, the disease has progressed to an advanced stage. This is why doctors call it severe aortic stenosis. The aortic valve has a severe build-up of calcium and it has a difficult time opening and closing.

  • Patients with severe aortic stenosis may find it hard to participate in regular activities like walking to get the mail or climbing up the stairs.

  • When this happens, your risk for heart failure increases significantly. This is why the outlook for severe aortic stenosis is poorer than many cancers that have metastasized in the body, such as metastatic breast cancer and even lung cancer.2

Don't Confuse Severe Aortic Stenosis Symptoms with Signs of Aging

Sometimes, fatigue isn’t just fatigue. If you’re having low energy, dizziness, or shortness of breath, it could be severe aortic stenosis, not just normal signs of aging.

These symptoms may mean your body is not getting enough oxygen. Over time, you may feel tired and weak. These may be signs that your severe aortic stenosis has reached a life-threatening point.

Studies have shown that while many patients initially report no symptoms, after closer examination, 32% do have symptoms.4 That is why it’s so important to talk to your doctor about your symptoms.

People may notice symptoms like:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest pain
  • Fatigue (low energy)
  • Lightheadedness, feeling dizzy, and/or fainting
  • Difficulty walking short distances
  • Swollen ankles and feet
  • Rapid or irregular heartbeat

Your Life Belongs to You, Not Severe Aortic Stenosis. Don't Delay Treatment

Make it a priority to treat your severe aortic stenosis even when life is busy. If you have been told you have severe aortic stenosis, put your heart health first by talking to your doctor about any new or worsening symptoms. You should know that without treating severe aortic stenosis, up to 50% of people will die within an average of 2 years once symptoms appear.3

The disease cannot be fixed with medication alone and will continue to get worse until you treat it. Valve replacement is the only effective treatment option. Luckily, treatment for severe aortic stenosis doesn’t have to involve open heart surgery. So, fight for your future by asking your doctor about your treatment options early.

Heart - 40% of patients with severe aortic stenosis do not receive valve replacement

Delaying treatment is a serious problem for many with severe aortic stenosis. Many patients with severe aortic stenosis do not receive necessary treatment. In fact, at least 40% (and perhaps up to 60%) of patients with severe aortic stenosis do not receive valve replacement.6-12

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References

  1. Osnabrugge, Ruben L.J., et al. Aortic Stenosis in the Elderly. Disease Prevalence and Number Candidates for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Meta-Analysis and Modeling Study. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2013;62:1002-1012.

  2. Using constant hazard ratio. Data on file, Edwards Lifesciences LLC. Analysis courtesy of Murat Tuczu, MD, Cleveland Clinic. 2010.

  3. Otto, C VALVE DISEASE; Timing of aortic valve surgery. Heart. 2000;84(2):211-218.

  4. Das P, Rimington H, Chambers J. Exercise testing to stratify risk in aortic stenosis. Eur Heart J. 2005;26(13):1309-1313.

  5. Nishimura R, Otto C, Bonow R, et al. 2014 AHA/ACC Guideline for the Management of Patients with Valvular Heart Disease. J AM Coll Cardiol. 2014;63(22):57-185.

  6. Bach D, Siao D, Girard S, Duvernoy C, McCallister B, Gualano S. Evaluation of Patients With Severe Symptomatic Aortic Stenosis Who Do Not Undergo Aortic Valve Replacement: The Potential Role of Subjectively Overestimated Operative Risk. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2009;2(6):533-539

  7. Freed B, Sugeng L, Furlong K et al. Reasons for Nonadherence to Guidelines for Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis and Potential Solutions. Am J Cardiol. 2010;105(9):1339-1342

  8. Bouma B, van den Brink R, van der Meulen J, et al. To operate or not on elderly patients with aortic stenosis: the decision and its consequences. Heart. 1999;82(2):143-148.

  9. Pellikka P, Sarano M, Nishimura R, et al. Outcome of 622 adults with asymptomatic, hemodynamically significant aortic stenosis during prolonged follow-up. Circulation. 2005;111(24):3290-3295.

  10. Charlson E, Legedza A, Hamel M. Decision-making and outcomes in severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. J Heart Valve Dis. 2006;15(3):312-321.

  11. Varadarajan P, Kapoor N, Banscal RC, Pai RG. Clinical profile and natural history of 453 nonsurgically managed patients with severe aortic stenosis. Ann Thorac Surg. 2006;82(6):2111-2115.

  12. Jan F, Andreev M, Mori N, Janosik B, Sagar K. Unoperated patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. Circulation. 2009;120;S753.