title: Prevalence and correlates of physiological valvular regurgitation in healthy subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although echo Doppler machines have consistently advanced within a quarter of a century, age related prevalence of valvular regurgitation detected by currently available echo machines remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and correlates of valvular regurgitation in healthy individuals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1,333 apparently healthy individuals were enrolled in this study. Echocardiographic examinations were performed using a currently available echo machine. Aortic regurgitation (AR) was detected less frequently (<10%) in younger subjects. Prevalence of aortic regurgitation increased with advancing age and reached 46% in their 9th decade. Mitral regurgitation (MR) was detected in two-thirds of the subjects >30 years old. Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) was frequently (>80%) detected in all age groups. In general, prevalence of valvular regurgitation was higher than those reported previously, except for a relatively lower prevalence of AR in the elderly population. Age was an independent correlate of AR and MR, but not of TR. The presence of AR and MR were independent correlates of TR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In healthy subjects, AR, MR or TR are commonly detected by using a current echo machine. These "physiological" valvular regurgitations should not be considered as a "pathological" valvular heart disease.
authors: Division of Cardiology, Bell Land General Hospital, Sakai, Japan. hokura@fdes.dti.ne.jp
authors: Hiroyuki
authors: H
authors: Okura
authors: Yuko
authors: Y
authors: Takada
authors: Azusa
authors: A
authors: Yamabe
authors: Takeshi
authors: T
authors: Ozaki
authors: Hiroyuki
authors: H
authors: Yamagishi
authors: Iku
authors: I
authors: Toda
authors: Minoru
authors: M
authors: Yoshiyama
authors: Junichi
authors: J
authors: Yoshikawa
authors: Kiyoshi
authors: K
authors: Yoshida
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence