As their first line of defense, your patients rely on you to identify the warnings of heart valve disease before it can progress. Those signs may include risk factors and related health conditions.
*Due to pacemaker or internal defibrillator implantation or radiation therapy to the chest.
If a patient over the age of 65 has any of the risks or health conditions above, a routine echocardiogram can provide a baseline for their heart valve health and detect early disease.
“It’s really important [for patients] to be focused on going to the doctor every year… and knowing whether there’s a risk [for them] for heart valve disease can make a big difference.”
V. Antoine Keller, MD, FACC, FACS |
Real Talk About Heart Valve Disease
All patients with known or suspected heart valve disease should undergo extensive physical examination and evaluation of medical history.
See the Full Guidelines
Discussing risk factors and related health conditions associated with heart valve disease with patients may help them understand the importance of screening.
Download the Patient Risk AssessmentHeart valve disease can reach mortality rates similar to those of some common metastatic cancers.
See the Impact of Progression on Your Patients