The sheer scale of undiagnosed heart valve disease in our ageing population has been revealed for the first time, thanks to new research led by the University of East Anglia. More than a quarter of healthy and symptom-free over 60s examined in the study were found to have previously undetected heart valve disease. Co-lead author Vassilios Vassiliou, Clinical Professor of Cardiac Medicine at UEA's Norwich Medical School, said: "This study focused on understanding how widespread heart valve issues of any severity are among healthy, symptom-free adults without any known heart diseases.
"We examined almost 4,500 individuals aged 60 and older from three regions in the UK: Norfolk, West Midlands, and Aberdeen, using echocardiography, which is an ultrasound of the heart. "Our findings showed that more than 28pc of these adults had some form of heart valve disease, although reassuringly it was only mild in the majority of the cases. "The data also indicated that age was the main factor associated with these heart valve problems, meaning that the older a person is, the higher their chance of having a significant valve issue.
" Blood flows around the heart and the rest of the body in one direction, like a one-way traffic system. The four heart valves (pulmonary and tricuspid on the right side, and aortic and mitral on the left side of the heart) control the direction of the blood flow ensuring optimal pumping of the heart. Co-lead author Prof Michael Frenneaux, of the Royal Brompton Hos.
