Tag Archives: prosthetic heart valves

Epidemiology of AS Prevalence AS is the most common valvular heart disease, accounting for 43% of valvular pathologies.1 Most cases are caused by calcification of the aortic valve leading to valve degeneration (termed calcified aortic valve disease [CAVD]), but rheumatic disease and congenital defects may also be responsible.8,9 The number of CAVD cases worldwide has been estimated at 9.4–12.6 million,9,10 although this may be an underestimate since many cases are asymptomatic and remain undiagnosed.11 Prevalence is particularly high in regions with a high sociodemographic index, including Europe, North America and Australasia, possibly re

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