Dangers of Severe Aortic Stenosis

The dangerous thing about severe aortic stenosis is that it prevents blood from flowing easily throughout your body. Your heart may need to work harder to pump blood throughout your body, and many times, it can’t do so effectively. When that happens, some people may notice uncomfortable symptoms such as shortness of breath and fatigue as the heart becomes weaker.

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

Severe Aortic Stenosis Has a Worse Prognosis Than Many Metastatic Cancers2

Survival Rates For Severe Aortic Stenosis Compared To Metastatic Cancers [% = survival rate after 5 years]

3%
Severe Inoperable Aortic Stenosis
4%
Lung Cancer
12%
Colorectal Cancer
23%
Breast Cancer
28%
Ovarian Cancer
30%
Prostate Cancer

 

Without aortic valve replacement, only a few people with the disease survive past 5 years. The good news is, there is hope and a less invasive treatment option available for severe aortic stenosis. If you are experiencing symptoms, or if you think you have severe aortic stenosis, talk to your doctor.

Recognize Severe Aortic Stenosis Symptoms

If aortic stenosis is so serious, why aren’t more people aware of it?

Many simply confuse these aortic valve stenosis symptoms with normal signs of aging. But actually, 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 when exercising
  • Swollen ankles and feet
  • Rapid or irregular heartbeat
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Up to 50% of people who develop severe aortic stenosis symptoms will die within an average of two years if they do not have their aortic valve replaced.3

Don't Wait to Treat Your Severe Aortic Stenosis

If you have been told you have severe aortic stenosis and have symptoms, it is important to remember that medication cannot stop or cure the disease, it can only treat the symptoms. Valve replacement is the only effective treatment option.

That may be hard to hear if you’ve received a recent diagnosis and you are going through a range of emotions. You may feel nervous or in disbelief. You may feel hesitant. Or you may want to wait to see how things go. But if you have been told you have severe aortic stenosis and start to experience symptoms, it is important to get treatment right away. Call your doctor as soon as you notice these symptoms or if your symptoms worsen.

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

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.