Age – being over the age of 65 (1 in 5 older adults have valve disease)
Family history – having relatives who have had valve disease
Infections – previous infections like endocarditis (infection of the heart) and rheumatic fever
Radiation to the chest – having had radiation for cancers of the chest
Congenital abnormalities – being born with a bicuspid valve or other abnormal valves
Other cardiovascular diseases – a history of heart attack, hypertension, high cholesterol and coronary artery disease (CAD)
Other diseases – diabetes, chronic kidney disease, lupus, and Marfan syndrome