The Alliance for Aging Research recently released The Silver Book®: Valve Disease volume and factsheet, which highlights the latest facts and figures on the impact of heart valve disease in America.
Heart valve disease is a leading type of cardiovascular disease that becomes more common with age. Published studies estimate that approximately five million people in the U.S. have heart valve disease. However, as noted in the new factsheet, based on current population estimates that number could range from 8.7 to 11.6 million. Heart valve disease is a serious disease that, left undetected and untreated, can lead to major complications, including death. And, heart valve disease is costly to the U.S. health care system, totaling $23.4 billion a year in direct health care expenditures.
You can find these new resources online at www.SilverBook.org.