What screening should be part of every senior’s health checkup?

Older Americans over age 65 aren’t talking about heart valve health with their doctors — despite many receiving a new health diagnosis in the last year, according to a new national study.

The survey of 5,000 Americans who are 65+ from all 50 states also uncovered that nearly nine in ten seniors (89%) believe regular heart health screenings are important as they age, but 84% have never talked with their doctor about getting screened for severe aortic stenosis, also known as heart valve failure. Heart valve failure occurs when the aortic valve stiffens and fails to open properly due to severe calcium build up.

February is American Heart Month, and with Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day on Feb. 22, Edwards Lifesciences (https://screenheartvalvedisease.com) commissioned the study with Talker Research to see how much attention older Americans are paying to their health, and the findings highlighted a significant gap in awareness and understanding of heart valve failure among older adults.

Understanding heart valve failure, and who is most at risk
Nearly half of surveyed Americans 65+ (48%) responded they do not know what heart valve failure is, despite being the group at highest risk for this life-threatening condition.

And many (29%) are not aware that heart valve failure can present as a mix of symptomatic (with signs and symptoms), or asymptomatic (no symptoms at all), depending on the individual.

“As we age, our heart valves can stiffen over time, making it harder for the heart to pump blood effectively. The aortic valve opening can narrow from the size of a quarter to that of a straw, limiting blood flow. This is seen more often in older adults,” said cardiologist Michele Kalt, MD FACC, chief of cardiology, Lakeside CardioVascular.

“Heart valve failure is especially dangerous because it can progress without symptoms, and become life-threatening — sometimes very rapidly. When symptoms do appear, such as tiredness, dizziness or shortness of breath, they are often mistaken for normal aging, when they may actually indicate warning signs of heart valve failure.”

In the survey, respondents were also asked about what signs and symptoms they associate with heart issues, and the findings revealed much room for improvement in awareness.

According to the results, less than half recognized that heart murmurs (43%), dizziness or fainting (43%) and swelling in legs, ankles or feet (38%) are some of the most prominent warning signs of heart issues, and in particular, of heart valve failure.

Why preventative heart screenings and regular care matter to limit health wake-up calls

More than half of Americans over 65 (51%) have received a new health diagnosis in the last year, and 44% have experienced a “health wake-up call” in that same time period, which has prompted them to take their health more seriously.

Sharing about one such health wake-up call, one respondent highlighted that serious conditions, such as heart valve disease, can come both with and without warning signs by saying, “I had a couple of episodes of passing out and falling down… After several tests, I was told that l had stenosis of my aortic valve.”

While another said, “[I] went for [a] routine physical and found out I needed [a] heart valve procedure.”

In light of this, most respondents (78%) said they’re concerned about receiving bad news when they visit the doctor’s office, and more than a third (36%) even admitted they avoid going to the doctor — potentially delaying the diagnosis of silent but serious conditions, such as heart valve disease.

As one survey taker noted, “I got an echocardiogram and discovered I have a leaky heart valve.” This underscores the value of regular checkups, heart health discussions and preventative screenings and overall greater awareness of heart valve failure.

“Each year, more than 4 million Americans will turn 65 —the age when heart valve disease risk rises sharply. Yet fewer than 1 in 6 have ever discussed heart valve screening with their doctor,” said Mark J. Russo, MD, MS, chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, an RWJBarnabas Health facility and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

This gap is dangerous because heart valve failure often progresses silently, without symptoms, until it is life-threatening. You cannot wait for symptoms that may never come; heart valve screening should be part of routine care for adults 65 and older.”

HEART VALVE DISEASE AWARENESS DAY (FEB. 22): KEY STATISTICS      

• 48% of seniors do not know what heart valve failure is
• Nearly half of Americans who are 65+ (48%) have a family history of heart issues, yet 37% of those do not get their heart health checked regularly by a doctor
• Most seniors (84%) have never discussed getting screened for heart valve disease with their doctor
• Many (29%) are not aware that heart valve failure can present as a mix of symptomatic (with signs and symptoms), or asymptomatic (no symptoms at all), depending on the individual