'Lives could be at risk because we don't know enough about heart conditions'

New research has revealed that 94 per cent of over 60s in the UK do not know what aortic stenosis is, and less than three per cent say heart valve disease is the condition that gives them significant concern compared to other illnesses.

This is despite annual mortality rates of untreated and severe aortic stenosis being considerably higher than most cancers and approximately one million people over 65 years of age are thought to suffer from heart valve disease in the UK

Seventy two per cent reported that they rarely, or have never, had their hearts listened to by a doctor.

The UK’s ageing population means that the number of people with heart valve disease is set to increase, with the over 65 population set to nearly double by 2050.

Dr Steven Lindsay, consultant cardiologist and clinical lead for cardiology at Bradford Teaching Hospitals Trust, says heart diseases in general are part of the consequence of ageing, but aortic stenosis is increasingly prevalent with age.

He says the problem with aortic stenosis is many people don’t seek medical advice until they start with symptoms which, he says, can often be when it is too late.

“At that point they can deteriorate quite quickly and they can be too unwell to get that treatment,” explains Dr Lindsay, referring to the heart valve replacement procedure.

He advises older people who may be feeling breathless to seek medical advice immediately instead of putting it down to old age.

“The common issue is that people find they are slowing up and attribute it to age; the fact they feel breathless when they are walking or they cannot walk as far and they attribute it to being older rather than because there is something wrong,” says Dr Lindsay.

He says if older people are concerned they should see their GP who, if they suspect they have may have heart valve disease, can send them for further investigations.

With Britain’s ageing population increasing, the incidences of heart valve disease look set to escalate.

Dr Lindsay says there are already waiting lists of people waiting for treatment.

“It is a major problem for the health service,” he says.

Dr Lindsay explains there is currently one centre serving Yorkshire and the Humber providing the less invasive heart valve treatment which is at Leeds General Infirmary. He says NHS England, who have commissioned this service, have agreed there needs to be another centre and Sheffield could be the location.

UK charity Heart Valve Voice released the data to highlight the worrying lack of concern Brits over 60 have about the disease.

Heart valve disease is a common, but treatable, heart condition where the heart valves no longer work properly and affect the pumping action of blood around the body.

However, many patients do not suffer severe or visible symptoms, or put their symptoms down to the natural ageing process, making diagnosis difficult. It is important to diagnose early as, if severe aortic stenosis is left untreated, half of those patients will die within two years of developing symptoms.

Almost three-quarters of over 60s claim their doctor rarely or never checks their heart with a stethoscope, despite this being one of the first steps to detect heart valve disease.

Encouragingly, although knowledge of heart valve disease is low, after receiving additional information about the condition, 66 per cent of over 60s are more concerned about aortic stenosis, 31 per cent say they would seek further information and seven per cent of the respondents even recognise symptoms of the disease in

themselves.

Using a stethoscope to listen to the heart is one of the simplest steps that doctors can take towards diagnosis so there is an urgent need for this to be part of routine checks by doctors.

Of course, doing your bit to stay healthy into your twilight years not only helps yourself but can also ease the pressure on the already stretched NHS.

While older people cannot prevent heart valve disease, as Dr Lindsay explains it is mainly caused by age and wear and tear, living a healthy lifestyle can go a long way to achieving good health and longevity.

Regular exercise, keeping your weight under control, not smoking and managing your blood pressure if you are susceptible to high blood pressure or have conditions such as diabetes, and taking your medication as prescribed can go a long way to keeping you healthy into old age.

And, the fitter you are, means should you need treatment for heart valve disease, you are more likely to be healthy enough to receive it.

Dr Lindsay recalls one patient who could barely walk across the room and was virtually bedbound but her life was transformed after treatment bringing hope to many more sufferers of the disease.