Fear about the risk of surgery is among the reasons half of eligible patients are not getting aortic valve replacement surgery, according to a study by physicians at the University of Michigan Health System.
Earlier this year, former First Lady Barbara Bush and comedian Robin Williams underwent aortic valve replacement surgery, but many patients may be missing out on the potentially life-saving surgery.
In the study published online ahead of print Nov. 17 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, two-thirds of the patients who did not have valve replacement were suffering symptoms such as shortness of breath that would have improved if they had the surgery.
"Aortic valve replacement not only treats the symptoms, but also saves lives," says lead author David S. Bach, M.D., professor of internal medicine at the U-M Medical School and cardiologist at the U-M Cardiovascular Center.
Aortic stenosis, a narrowing of the aortic valve opening, is common among older adults. In those age 75 and older, as many as 5 percent have the heart condition.
Over time, the heart thickens as it tries to pump blood through the small valve opening which can lead to heart failure. People with severe aortic stenosis may have shortness of breath, chest discomfort, or lose consciousness due to the low blood flow across the valve.
Authors say they were surprised to learn that more than a handful of patients were denied surgery.
Researchers identified 369 patients from three Michigan hospitals who had aortic stenosis. They had been screened by electrocardiogram. Among them, 191 did not have their aortic valve replaced.