(ORDO NEWS) — Heart valve replacement surgery for people with aortic stenosis should be done sooner than previously thought, according to a new study from the University of East Anglia.
This condition is one of the most common and serious valvular diseases caused by narrowing of the aortic valve opening.
As soon as patients develop symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, or loss of consciousness, doctors recommend replacing the narrowed valve.
But many patients with aortic stenosis do not have symptoms even with severe valve narrowing, and therefore they are not eligible for valve replacement everywhere.
A new study shows that these patients should undergo a valve replacement procedure before permanent damage to the heart muscle occurs.
The study group performed a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing early intervention with conservative management in patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis.
They then analyzed data from all available studies, which included a total of 3798 patients, of which 302 were included in the two largest randomized controlled trials and 3496 were included in observational studies.
“ We found that early intervention, before patients develop symptoms, is associated with a lower risk of death and hospitalization for heart failure ,” the authors said.
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