Unmet needs in valvular heart disease

Valvular heart disease (VHD) is the next epidemic in the cardiovascular field, affecting millions of people worldwide and having a major impact on health care systems. With aging of the population, the incidence and prevalence of VHD will continue to increase. However, VHD has not received the attention it deserves from both the public and policymakers. Despite important advances in the pathophysiology, natural history, management, and treatment of VHD including the development of transcatheter therapies, VHD remains underdiagnosed, identified late, and often undertreated with inequality in access to care and treatment options, and there is no medication that can prevent disease progression. The present review article discusses these gaps in the management of VHD and potential actions to undertake to improve the outcome of patients with VHD.

Automated summary

Valvular heart disease (VHD) is a growing epidemic that affects millions of people globally and has a significant impact on healthcare systems. However, it has not received sufficient attention from the public and policymakers. Despite advancements in understanding and treatment, VHD is often underdiagnosed, detected late, and undertreated, leading to inequality in access to care and limited prevention options. This review article discusses the gaps in VHD management and proposes potential actions for improving patient outcomes.