Epidemiology

AS is the most common valvular disease in the US and Europe requiring treatment, and is the second most frequent cause for cardiac surgery. It is largely a disease of older people, present in about 5% of the population at age 65 years and approximately 12.4% of those ages ≥75 years.[1][2] ​​​​​​​​In 2021, aortic valve disorders were the underlying cause of mortality in 15,239 cases in the US. Further, between 2010 and 2018, the incidence rate of AS increased from 13.5 to 17.0 per 1000, respectively.[3]​​ In the UK, an estimated 291,448 people ages ≥55 years were living with symptomatic severe AS in 2019; approximately 92,000 individuals had asymptomatic severe AS.[4]​

AS is preceded by aortic sclerosis. Aortic valve sclerosis affects an estimated 1 in 4 people above the age of 65 years in the US and incidence is increasing with an aging population and more widespread use of noninvasive imaging.[5]

Patients with bicuspid valves and AS present two decades earlier on average than patients with trileaflet valves.[6] Congenital bicuspid aortic valves have been reported to affect around 0.9% to 1.36% of the general population with a 2:1 male:female predominance.[7]

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