Heart valve disease crisis as 30k Scots undiagnosed and unaware of the risk

As many as 30,000 Scots with heart valve disease may be going undiagnosed, Scottish cardiac specialists have warned.

Worryingly, women are at greater risk of dying and are less likely to be referred for aortic valve treatment than men.

Dr Stuart Watkins, consultant cardiologist at The Golden Jubilee hospital in Clydebank, said: “We believe a significant number of people with this potentially life-threatening condition may be undiagnosed.

“Considering the estimated prevalence of heart valve disease and the fact that fewer than 2,000 people in Scotland are receiving the most effective treatments, there appears to be a critical gap in diagnosis, awareness, or access to healthcare – putting many lives at serious risk.”

Risk to women

The deficit in care to women is revealed by UK charity Valve For Life, which says that 73,000 people in Scotland have heart valve problems.

As many as 30,000 people are missing out on a potentially lifesaving diagnosis because they don’t know they are at risk, the charity claimed.

It said: “Studies have shown that women with aortic stenosis tend to have a higher risk of mortality and are less likely to be referred for aortic valve procedures compared to men.”

It is asking people over 50 to get a free heart check on its diagnostic bus at ASDA’s Chesser supermarket in Edinburgh this Thursday.

“We have diagnosed a number of heart patients on previous drop-ins,” it added.

Dr Jonathan Byrne said: “Women may be unaware of their potential risk of heart valve disease and symptoms of heart valve disease may not be immediately obvious.”

The Kings College London cardiologist added: “A good example of this is aortic stenosis, the most common and dangerous form of heart valve disease. If left untreated it can be fatal within a few years of diagnosis.”

‘I would not have seen my next birthday’

Katherine McIsaac, from Kirkbean, near Dumfries, was overwhelmed by exhaustion at 53, and assumed this was because of the menopause.

She said: “After a while I got a check-up from my GP who detected my heart valve was not working properly. I deteriorated over the next five years and got emergency surgery in 2020. My cardiologist told me I would not have seen my next birthday without a valve replacement.”

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After surgery she returned to her job in customer service and is able to keep up her love of cycling.

Today she helps run a support group for patients in Dumfries and Galloway which offers emotional support for those going through major heart treatment for valve disease.

The heart check bus will be run by volunteer doctors and nurses.

Louise Axten, Structural Heart Nurse at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, said: “We would welcome any members of the public aged over 50 to come down and have a free heart check whether they are experiencing symptoms or not.

“We can estimate that in Scotland alone there are almost 30,000 people living with heart valve disease who don’t know it.”