DISPARITIES IN CARE MAY LEAVE SOME OF YOUR PATIENTS MORE VULNERABLE TO UNDERDIAGNOSIS

Certain Communities Are at Greater Risk

Those with limited access to resources are more likely to experience lower diagnosis rates and may lose more lives to heart valve disease.

Graphic depicting a risk scale with the indicator pointing to high risk

Women and People Who Are on Medicaid Are Less Likely to Be Routinely Monitored for Progression of Heart Valve Disease

Women are less often diagnosed with heart valve disease than men, suggesting an imbalance that could be fatal for women.

Heart valve disease screening device

Black and Hispanic Persons Are Disproportionately Affected by Underdiagnosis

  • Deaths from cardiovascular disease are higher in Black Americans than White Americans
  • Black Americans may be at increased risk for earlier onset of heart valve disease and are 32% less likely than White Americans to be diagnosed
  • Among those on Medicare who were diagnosed with aortic stenosis, only 5% were Black and 1% were Hispanic
  • Many cases of heart valve disease within these groups may be getting missed

Best Practices at Your Fingertips

Recommendations for heart valve disease detection and intervention are featured in the ACC/AHA Guidelines.

See the Highlights
Man looking at an illustration red heart valve character called Mr. Valve with the words ‘Screen. Detect. Act.’ underneath