MHIF creates scientific program to address gaps in treating valvular heart disease patients

Despite significant medical advances, there continue to be significant gaps in the health care of the growing number of patients with valvular heart disease. In the USA, the total number of people aged 65 years or older with valvular heart disease will grow to approximately 5.2 million by year 2020, and 6.8 million individuals by the year 2030. The Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation- (MHIF) has created a scientific program, "Valve Summit 2014: The Science and Delivery of Optimal, Multi-Disciplinary Care," to address the ongoing, complex evolution in the clinical management of patients with valvular heart disease. The conference will be held on April 25th and 26th at the Radisson Blu in downtown Minneapolis.

The conference will provide opportunities for cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and care providers to learn from leading experts from across the country. Faculty for the event includes representatives from some of the leading medical centers in the country, such as Lenox Hill Heart and Vascular Institute, Mayo Clinic, Cedar-Sinai Medical Center, Cleveland Clinic and the Minneapolis Heart Institute-. The directors of the event are Wesley R. Pedersen, MD, Director of Transcatheter Valve Therapies for the Minneapolis Heart Institute- at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, and Paul Sorajja, MD, Director of the Center for Valve and Structural Heart Disease at the Minneapolis Heart Institute- at Abbott Northwestern Hospital. Drs. Pedersen and Sorajja are also highly published research cardiologists at the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation.

"Practice gaps will be an important focus of the conference," commented Dr. Sorajja. "For example, despite the established indications of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in aortic stenosis, there continues to be low adoption of this life-saving therapy for these patients. Gaps also exist for other lesions such as mitral regurgitation. This conference will directly address barriers to care for such patients, with an emphasis on a multi-disciplinary approach within a valve center. "

Key to the conference will be discussion of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) practice guidelines for the management of valvular heart disease. First published in 1998, updates to these guidelines are expected to be published in late 2013 or early 2014. The MHIF conference on valve disease will offer physicians and care providers a timely opportunity to become fully informed of the most current ACC/AHA practice guidelines.

"Innovation has led to marked improvement in the technology and durability of bioprosthetic valves, which has implications for both surgical and percutaneous therapies," stated Dr. Pedersen. "At our summit on valve disease, care providers will have the chance to discuss the current influences that impact decisions for a broad range of procedures."

The event will be held at:

Radisson Blu Hotel
35 7th Street South
Minneapolis, MN 55402

Source: Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation