When and how aortic stenosis is first diagnosed: A single-center observational study

Abstract Background The development of clinical symptoms is associated with cardiovascular events in patients with aortic stenosis (AS). Thus, early diagnosis of AS is clinically important. However, there are few data on symptom status or the severity of AS when patients are first diagnosed, or on h...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of cardiology 2016-10, Vol.68 (4), p.324-328
Main Authors: Chiang, Shuo-Ju, MD, Daimon, Masao, MD, FACC, FJCC, Miyazaki, Sakiko, MD, Kawata, Takayuki, MD, Morimoto-Ichikawa, Ryoko, MD, Maruyama, Masaki, MD, Ohmura, Hirotoshi, MD, Miyauchi, Katsumi, MD, FJCC, Lee, Seitetsu L., MD, Daida, Hiroyuki, MD, FJCC
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aortic stenosis
Aortic Valve - surgery
Aortic Valve Stenosis - diagnosis
Aortic Valve Stenosis - surgery
Asymptomatic Diseases
Auscultation
Cardiovascular
Diagnosis
Early Diagnosis
Echocardiography, Doppler
Electrocardiography
Female
Heart Auscultation
Heart Murmurs - diagnosis
Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation
Heart Ventricles - diagnostic imaging
Humans
Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular - etiology
Male
Retrospective Studies
Symptom
Valve
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Summary:Abstract Background The development of clinical symptoms is associated with cardiovascular events in patients with aortic stenosis (AS). Thus, early diagnosis of AS is clinically important. However, there are few data on symptom status or the severity of AS when patients are first diagnosed, or on how AS is detected in routine practice. We aimed to investigate when and how AS patients are first diagnosed in our hospital. Methods We retrospectively enrolled 198 AS patients diagnosed from 1989 to 2009, and identified their symptoms and AS severity at the time of the first diagnosis. We also assessed the reasons why they came to the hospital based on their medical records. Results Of the 198 patients, 82 (41.6%) had voluntarily visited or been referred to our hospital after developing clinical symptoms (Symptomatic group). The remaining 116 patients (58.4%) had been asymptomatic, and cardiovascular disease was suspected during an annual or occasional health checkup (Asymptomatic group). The initial findings in the Asymptomatic group that led to the diagnosis of AS were: a systolic murmur on auscultation (62%), abnormal electrocardiography (27%), or abnormal echocardiography (11%). The Symptomatic group had significantly greater AS severity and an increased left ventricular mass index, and experienced more cardiac events (valve replacement or cardiac death) during the follow-up period. Conclusions About 40% of the AS patients in this study were not diagnosed until they developed clinical symptoms, suggesting that many other patients in the community might have a latent risk of cardiovascular events. Auscultation plays an important role in the early diagnosis of AS.
ISSN:0914-5087
1876-4738
DOI:10.1016/j.jjcc.2015.10.007