Prevalence in Evidence: Valvular Heart Diseases Dominating the Brazilian Scenario

Valvular heart disease is a highly prevalent cardiovascular condition, estimated to affect more than 2% of the population, and is associated with increased mortality. However, most epidemiological studies are conducted in high-income countries, and we know that the characteristics vary according to the country and region of the world. In fact, degenerative valvular heart disease predominates in high-income countries, while rheumatic and infectious diseases are still very prevalent in lower-income countries. Socioeconomic conditions also have important implications for the diagnosis and treatment of this condition.

Data from the EURObservational Research Programme Valvular Heart Disease II (EORP-VHD II) Survey, with participants from 28 European countries and an average age of 71 years, reported aortic valve stenosis as the most frequent valvular disease, present in 41% of patients, followed at a distance by mitral regurgitation, aortic regurgitation, and mitral stenosis. Degenerative etiology was the most common, except for mitral stenosis, where rheumatic etiology predominated. This record reinforced the results of the initial EORP-VHD, conducted in 2001. The increase in aortic stenosis is likely a consequence of population aging, and the reduction in rheumatic mitral stenosis is a result of the decrease in rheumatic fever in Europe. Data recently published in the ATLAS of the European Society of Cardiology also highlight that valvular diseases continue to increase in prevalence and are responsible for thousands of deaths annually.

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