Contemporary diagnosis and treatment of valvular heart disease in Korea: a nationwide hospital-based registry study

• Published in: Journal of cardiovascular imaging Vol. 32; no. 1; p. 37
• Main Authors: Kim, Hyung Yoon, Lee, Hee Jeong, Kim, In-Cheol, Son, Jung-Woo, Park, Jun-Bean, Lee, Sahmin, Kim, Eun Kyoung, Park, Seong-Mi, Chung, Woo-Baek, Cho, Jung Sun, Park, Jin-Sun, Seo, Jeong-Sook, Lee, Sun Hwa, Sun, Byung Joo, Shim, Chi Young, Kim, Hyungseop, Kim, Kye Hun, Kang, Duk-Hyun, Ha, Jong-Won, Chung, Wook-Jin, Park, Chan Seok, Ahn, Hyo-Suk, Cho, Eun Joo, Ryu, Dong Ryeol, Yang, Dong Heon, Park, Jeong Rang, Kim, Woo-Shik, Sohn, Il Suk, Ho, Hwang Sun, Ji-Yong, Choi, Park, Tae-Ho, Park, Yong Hyun, Choi, Jung Hyun, Kim, Hack-Lyoung, Seo, Hye Sun, Choi, Eui-Young, Son, Jang-Won, Kim, Shin-Jae, Rhee, Sang Jae, Cho, In-Jeong, Byun, Young Sup, Shin, Sung-Hee, Yoon, Se-Jung, Beom, Jong Wook, Lee, Ju-Hee, Bae, Dae-Hwan, Kim, Sung-Ai, Park, Dae Gyun, Kang, Min-Kyung, Hong, Kyung-Soon, Heo, Ran
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 한국심초음파학회 22.11.2024
• Subjects: 내과학; Heart valve diseases; Treatment; Diagnosis; Outcome; Korea
• ISSN: 2586-7296; 2586-7210; 2586-7296
• DOI: 10.1186/s44348-024-00036-z

This study was designed to determine the current status of diagnosis and treatment of valvular heart disease (VHD) in Korea. A nationwide registry study was conducted in 45 hospitals in Korea involving adult patients with at least moderate VHD as determined by echocardiography carried out between September and October of 2019. Of a total of 4,094 patients with at least moderate VHD, 1,482 had severe VHD (age, 71.3 ± 13.5 years; 49.1% male). Echocardiographic data used for the diagnosis of each case of VHD were analyzed. Experts from each center determined the diagnosis and treatment strategy for VHD based on current guidelines and institutional policy. The clinical outcome was in-hospital mortality. Each valve underwent surgical or transcatheter intervention in 19.3% cases of severe mitral stenosis, 31.4% cases of severe primary mitral regurgitation (MR), 7.5% cases of severe secondary MR, 43.7% cases of severe aortic stenosis, 27.5% cases of severe aortic regurgitation, and 7.2% cases of severe tricuspid regurgitation. The overall in-hospital mortality rate for patients with severe VHD was 5.4%, and for secondary severe MR and severe tricuspid regurgitation, the rates were 9.0% and 7.5%, respectively, indicating a poor prognosis. In-hospital mortality occurred in 73 of the 1,244 patients (5.9%) who received conservative treatment and in 18 of the 455 patients (4.0%) who received a surgical or transcatheter intervention, which was significantly lower in the intervention group (P = 0.037). This study provides important information about the current status of VHD diagnosis and treatment through a nationwide registry in Korea and helps to define future changes.