title: Age-related changes in aortic valve with emphasis on the relation between pressure loading and thickened leaflets of the aortic valves.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The information of the prevalence of TAV and its relation to aortic stenosis in a large-scale human population is limited.
  
  
  METHODS
  An echocardiographic study was performed prospectively in 2850 subjects to determine the relationship between age and the thickened aortic valves (TAV). Another simulated study was designed to test the hypothesis that the noncoronary leaflet may have a greater diastolic loading than the right or left coronary leaflet.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of TAV in this population was 14.4% (410/2850). It was 0% in the <39 years old; however, the prevalence of TAV increased progressively with age: it was 10.0% in the middle age group, 17.0% in the elderly group, and 53.7% in the octogenarian group (Chi-square test for linear trend, chi2=67.10, p<0.001). A greater frequency of TAV was noted at noncoronary leaflet (57.0%) than at either right (22.3%) or left (20.6%) coronary leaflet (chi2=5.99, df=2, p<0.001). The prevalence of aortic stenosis (AS) tended to increase with age (Chi-square test for linear trend, chi2=37.85, p<0.001). The simulated study demonstrated that the sinus of Valsalva without a coronary leaflet had a higher pressure loading than that with a coronary leaflet.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that the prevalences of TAV and AS increase progressively with age. A greater frequency of TAV is found at the noncoronary leaflet than at either the right or left coronary leaflet. The simulated study supports our hypothesis that the noncoronary leaflet may bear a greater pressure loading than either the left or right coronary leaflet.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. sllin@isca.vghks.gov.tw
authors.forename: Shoa-Lin
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chun-Peng
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shuenn-Tsong
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chuen-Wang
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Chiou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000473:pathology*; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011312:Pressure; D011446:Prospective Studies