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One in four healthy people aged 60 and over in the UK have undiagnosed heart valve disease, research shows.
The condition develops when one or more heart valves do not work properly. The main problems are caused by the valves either not opening fully or not closing properly.
Heart valve disease can put extra strain on the heart and increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes and other heart health problems, experts said.
Researchers led by the University of East Anglia (UEA) found that one in four adults who were healthy and had no symptoms had the disease but didn’t know it. Their findings were published in European Heart Journal Cardiovascular Imaging.
Co-author Vassilios Vassiliou, Clinical Professor of Cardiology at UEA’s Norwich Medical School, said: “This study focuses on understanding how widespread heart valve problems of any severity are among healthy adults without symptoms and no known heart disease.
“We studied almost 4,500 individuals aged 60 and over 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 28% of these adults had some form of heart valve disease, although it is reassuring that it was only mild in most cases.
“The data also show that age is the main factor associated with these heart valve problems, meaning that the older a person is, the more likely they are to have a significant valve problem.”
Co-author Prof Michael Freno of the Royal Brompton Hospital in London said the hearts of those with undetected disease were likely to be put under more pressure as a result. “Over time, this can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and other heart diseases,” he added.
Symptoms may include feeling short of breath, chest pain, feeling weak or dizzy, swollen ankles and feet, feeling more tired than usual, and pounding in the chest or neck.
Over more than a decade, 4,327 asymptomatic patients aged 60 and over took part in the study, funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), after being invited by their general practice.
They were assessed with a health questionnaire, clinical examination and transthoracic echocardiography, which is an ultrasound of the heart. Heart valve disease was diagnosed in 28.2% of participants.
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“This study reveals that many older people have heart valve problems, even if they show no symptoms, and we would recommend that if people develop new symptoms or signs that could indicate heart disease, they discuss this with their doctor Vasiliou said.
“As our population ages, this information can help healthcare providers understand the extent of valve disease and streamline routine care and screening programs to ensure we can meet future demand.”
“That way, they can better identify and help those at risk before problems become serious.”
Prof James Leiper, associate medical director of the BHF, said the findings were important and called for research to find ways to identify more people with heart valve disease.
A separate survey on Thursdaypublished in the British Medical Journal, found that the decline in coronary heart disease rates among under-60s in the UK has stalled, which researchers say may be due to rising obesity rates and lack of exercise.
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