A Multi-Center Study of the Pathologies of Valvular Heart Diseases: 5 year Analysis of More Than 3400 Patients in Iran

The purpose of this study is to provide insight into pathology patterns of cardiac valves, which remains a major cause of mortality and morbidity in Iran as a developing country. This prospective study included 3418 consecutive cardiac surgery patients who underwent valve surgery over the past 5 years in 6 major hospitals. Etiologic and pathologic data of the valves were based on either pathologic reports (for replaced valves) or gross detection of the surgeons (for repaired valves). The mean age of subjects was 43.98±14.45 years. 1616(47.27%) of them were male and 1802(52.73%) were female. Approximately 46% (1572) of the patients underwent mitral valve surgery.Mitral valve disease was found to be due to ischemia in 327(9.56), infective endocartidits in 68 (1.99), congenital problems in 71(2.08) and degenerative etiology in 264(7.72). Rheumatic valve disease was most frequent in patients of 40-49 years old. This study shows that rheumatic valvular disease remains the most frequent valvular pathology among patients undergoing valvular surgery in Iran. The relatively high mean age of patients with rheumatic valvular disease emphasizes the priority of this health problem in Iran which requires particular attention, especially in terms of prevention and also treatment.