Image: A paradigm shift is occurring in the way valvular heart disease is diagnosed and treated (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Valvular heart disease, which affects the function of any of the heart’s four valves, affects 2.5% of the U.S. population and 13% of those over age 80. Often, the disease is not detected until it has progressed to the point where it causes symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, and fatigue. If detected early, quality of life can be greatly improved through treatments that halt the progression of the disease. Traditionally, the presence of heart valve disease has been determined by stethoscope examination, but emerging technologies are expected to improve diagnostic capabilities.

In a paper published in lancetResearchers at Rutgers Health, New Brunswick, N.J., and other institutions say that current research could soon help doctors reduce the number of Americans who die each year from valvular heart disease (approximately 25,000 people). and shed light on future technologies. This research focuses on how artificial intelligence (AI) can identify heart murmurs at very low frequency frequencies that are imperceptible to the human ear. In addition, ECGs and wearable devices can help AI detect heart valve disease early and monitor its progress after diagnosis by recording the heart’s electrical activity and collecting data on heart rate, blood pressure, and blood oxygen levels. Helpful.

The role of primary care physicians in early detection of heart valve disease may also expand. Currently, few people have the tools or knowledge needed to make a diagnosis. However, recent research shows that combining a portable ultrasound device with AI may make it easier to diagnose heart disease. This approach could make it possible to incorporate screening for valvular heart disease into routine examinations, especially for people at high risk. AI can also enhance patient care by leveraging ultrasound and other imaging data to create a digital twin of each patient. This virtual model can predict an individual’s response to treatment or surgery, helping to narrow down treatment options.

The article also discusses advances in surgical treatment and the emergence of transcatheter valve replacement, which for some patients is a less invasive option that eliminates the need for a large opening in the chest. Currently, prosthetic valves cannot regenerate and therefore cannot match the performance of natural valve tissue over time, but research into new generations of more adaptable and absorbable prosthetic valves is underway in clinical trials. These innovative prostheses are designed to replace functional organic valves in the body over time and hold promise, especially for younger patients who are more likely to require multiple valve replacements over their lifetime. We provide solutions.

“We are witnessing a paradigm shift in how valvular heart disease is diagnosed and treated,” said Henry Henry Professor of Cardiology at Rutgers University and director of the Division of Cardiovascular Disease and Hypertension at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. said Partho Sengupta. “The innovations, discoveries, and future of clinical care we have envisioned at Rutgers University will be published in The Lancet, and this roadmap could be adopted globally in the fight against valvular heart disease. That is reassuring.”

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