BACKGROUND: Degenerative aortic valve disease often co-exists with coronary artery disease (CAD) and studies done in western populations have shown that it shares the same risk factors which cause CAD. However little is known in this context among Asian Indians. The current study looks into the risk factors of degenerative aortic valve disease in Asian Indian population. METHODS: Ninety-one consecutive patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) reporting for left heart catheterization prior to valve replacement surgery at a tertiary care centre were recruited for the study. They were compared with age and sex matched controls selected from a database of 3200 patients referred for elective diagnostic left heart catheterization for suspected CAD. Following traditional cardiovascular risk factors were assessed in all patients: age, gender, family history of CAD, smoking history, presence of diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia. RESULTS: The mean age of the study population was 57.8 ± 8.2 years (range, 40-80 years). Smoking, family history of CAD and hypercholesterolemia were significantly more prevalent in patients with degenerative AS compared to those with normal valves. No significant difference was noted in the presence of diabetes mellitus. On multivariate logistic regression, family history of premature CAD (OR 3.68; CI 1.38-9.78) smoking history (OR, 2.56; CI, 1.21-5.39), and raised LDL levels (OR, 5.55; CI, 2.63-11.69) were independently associated with the aortic stenosis patient cohort. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed a significant association of cardiovascular risk factors with aortic stenosis independent of age and gender in Asian Indian patients.