Aortic Valve Sclerosis and Degenerative Valve Disease in a Nigerian Population: An Echocardiographic Study.

BACKGROUND

The burden of degenerative valve disease is increasing globally because of population aging. However, data on this condition is scarce in Nigeria and across Africa.

OBJECTIVE

Our study evaluated the prevalence, pattern, and associations of aortic sclerosis and degenerative valve disease in a Nigerian population.

METHODS

Data of a total of 4030 patients were analyzed retrospectively from the Federal Medical Centre Abuja transthoracic echocardiographic registry from January 2020 to December 2024. Patients were 18 years and above. Aortic sclerosis, degenerative mitral valve disease, calcific aortic valve disease, and degenerative valve disease were defined in accordance with the report of the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines.

RESULTS

The mean age of patients was 52 ± 15 years and 53.2% were female. The prevalence rates were 4.2% for aortic sclerosis, 0.2% for degenerative mitral valve disease, 1.2% for calcific aortic valve disease, and 1.3% for degenerative valve disease. Among patients aged 65 years and older, the prevalences rates were higher for aortic sclerosis (13.2%), degenerative mitral valve disease (1.0%), calcific aortic valve disease (3.4%), and degenerative valve disease (3.9%) [ < 0.001]. Only 1.7% and 0.6% of those <65 years had aortic sclerosis and calcific aortic valve disease, respectively. Patients aged 65 years and older, and hypertension had odds ratio (OR) of 7.99 and 3.98 for developing aortic sclerosis, respectively. For calcific aortic valve disease, the OR was higher for patients aged 65 years and older (OR: 4.25), hypertension (OR: 2.48), and left ventricular hypertrophy (OR: 5.35) [ < 0.001].

CONCLUSION

In this Nigerian echocardiographic registry, age above 65 years and hypertension were associated with aortic sclerosis and calcific aortic valve disease.