Valvular heart disease, Part 2. Mitral valve disease in older adults.

Mitral valve disease is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in patients over age 65. The etiology, physical findings, and natural history of rheumatic mitral stenosis, rheumatic mitral regurgitation, chronic non-rheumatic mitral regurgitation, and acute mitral regurgitation may differ in older and younger patients. In addition, symptoms of mitral valve disease may be masked or exacerbated by coexistent coronary artery disease, pulmonary disease, hypertension, and other systemic disorders that commonly occur in older adults. The clinical evaluation, along with various non-invasive cardiac procedures, is important for identifying mitral valve disease as the cause of abnormal signs and symptoms in older patients. Recognition of mitral valve abnormalities has important implications, because mitral valve repair or replacement is usually associated with favorable short- and long-term results, even in patients over age 65.