This observational study aims to evaluate risk factors of progress and adverse outcome of aortic regurgitation
Aortic regurgitation is relatively common, with a prevalence of 13% for men and 8,5% for women in the Framingham study (Singh et al). Patients with aortic regurgitation are evaluated regularly with echocardiography to see if progress occurs, and suitable candidates are referred for surgical repair or replacement of the aortic valve. However, an American study from 2019 showed that only 12% of cases of aortic regurgitation progressed from mild to moderate or severe over a 10 years period (Yang et al). This means that the majority of patients undergo echocardiographic evaluations without a clinical benefit. It is unclear whether these findings also apply to a Swedish population with the European definitions for aortic regurgitation. Aim: To do a retrospective analysis of patients evaluated with echocardiography in Västerås, Sweden between January 2003 and March 2025 to describe the prevalence of aortic regurgitation as well as aortic dilatation, to describe how often progress occurs in patients with mild or moderate aortic regurgitation, and finally to look at factors (clinical, echocardiographic) associated with progress of aortic regurgitation as well as outcome (mortality, MACE, cardiac surgery).
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
35,000
Västmanlands sjukhus Västerås
Västerås, Sweden
Progress of aortic regurgitation
Progress of aortic regurgitation from mild to moderate or severe, or moderate to severe. Progress is defined according to current European Society for Cardiology guidelines using a comprehensive echocardiographic assessment
Time frame: Depending on when the patients was evaluated first, up to approximately 20 years of follow-up
Surgical treatment of aortic regurgitation or aortic aneurysm
Surgical treatment of aortic regurgitation or aortic aneurysm
Time frame: Depending on when the patients was evaluated first, up to approximately 20 years of follow-up
Hospitalization for heart failure
Hospitalization for heart failure during follow-up
Time frame: Depending on when the patients was evaluated first, up to approximately 20 years of follow-up
Hospitalization for stroke or myocardial infarction
Composite endpoint
Time frame: Depending on when the patients was evaluated first, up to approximately 20 years of follow-up
All-cause mortality
All-cause mortality during follow-up
Time frame: Depending on when the patients was evaluated first, up to approximately 20 years of follow-up
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