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Observational Study
. 2025 Mar 20;37(1):98.
doi: 10.1007/s40520-025-02937-5.

The PREVASC study: Prospective REgistry of Valve disease in Asymptomatic Italian elderly SubjeCts

Nazario Carrabba  1 , Mattia Alexis Amico  2 , Gherardo Busi  2 , Matteo Vannini  2 , Filippo Bruscoli  2 , Salvatore Fortunato  3 , Luciano Arcari  3 , Emilio Di Lorenzo  4 , Giampaolo Luzi  5 , Francesco Clemenza  6 , Francesco Amico  7 , Giuseppe Pes  8 , Marco Merlo  9   10 , Gianfranco Sinagra  9   10 , Giovambattista Desideri  11 , Francesco Vetta  12 , Alessandro Mugelli  13 , Niccolo Marchionni  14 , Alessandro Boccanelli  15 ; PREVASC Working Group, Italian Society of Geriatric Cardiology (SICGe)
Collaborators, Affiliations
Observational Study

The PREVASC study: Prospective REgistry of Valve disease in Asymptomatic Italian elderly SubjeCts

Nazario Carrabba et al. Aging Clin Exp Res. .

Erratum in

  • Correction: The PREVASC study: Prospective REgistry of Valve disease in Asymptomatic Italian elderly SubjeCts.
    Carrabba N, Amico MA, Busi G, Vannini M, Bruscoli F, Fortunato S, Arcari L, Di Lorenzo E, Luzi G, Clemenza F, Amico F, Pes G, Merlo M, Sinagra G, Desideri G, Vetta F, Mugelli A, Marchionni N, Boccanelli A; PREVASC Working Group, Italian Society of Geriatric Cardiology (SICGe). Carrabba N, et al. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2025 Jun 21;37(1):190. doi: 10.1007/s40520-025-03085-6. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2025. PMID: 40542187 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

Abstract

Aims: Valvular heart disease (VHD) is the third leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity, with its incidence and public health impact projected to increase significantly. This study adopts a novel perspective, focusing on elderly individuals residing in rural areas, highlighting the unique dynamics of small-town settings.

Methods: This multicenter, observational study was conducted from May 2022 to September 2023, under the coordination of the AOU Careggi Echo Core-Lab, which managed the entire screening program. In 10 small Italian villages, each municipality facilitated the enrollment of asymptomatic individuals aged ≥ 65 years, with no prior VHD history, through voluntary participation. Participants were grouped into three age categories (65-69, 70-74, and ≥ 75 years) and underwent a thorough evaluation, including a Quality of Life (QoL) questionnaire and comprehensive echocardiographic assessment focusing on VHD detection and grading.

Results: Among 1,113 participants, the prevalence and severity of VHD showed a significant increase with age (p < 0.0001). Remarkably, 94% of individuals aged ≥ 75 years had at least one valvular defect, with 22.5% presenting moderate or severe valvulopathy, including a prevalence of 4.8% for moderate or severe aortic valve stenosis and 7.5% for mitral regurgitation. Right-sided valvulopathies followed a similar trend, affecting 71.9% of elderly participants. QoL evaluations revealed a generally positive perceived health status, with a mean score of 77 ± 16.

Conclusions: Our registry highlights that the prevalence of VHD in asymptomatic individuals over 65 years living in small Italian communities is substantial, increases with age, and is predominantly degenerative in etiology. Notably, most individuals with undiagnosed VHD perceived themselves as healthy.

Keywords: Echocardiography; Elderly; Risk factors prevention; Screening program; Small communities; Valvular heart disease.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest. Human and animal rights: All procedures involving human participants were carried out in compliance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee, as well as the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its subsequent amendments or equivalent ethical guidelines. Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained from all participants included in the study.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Distribution of enrolling centers across Italy
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Mean Health perception VAS value in each center. VAS: visual analogue scale
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Prevalence of different valvopathies age stratified
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Prevalence of Aortic stenotis and Mitral Rigurgitation age stratified. Figure 4A: Prevalence of Any degree of AS and MR age stratified. Figure 4B Prevalence of Moderate or Severe AS and MR age stratified. AS: aortic stenosis. MR: mitral regurgitation
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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