Structural heart disease: causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

By Cristiano Antonino On May 16, 2023

Structural heart diseases are abnormalities of the heart valves that escape diagnosis due to symptoms that increase with age such as fatigue, breathlessness and difficulty climbing stairs

The name of this disease seems less frightening than the others as the word structural does not suggest an immediate danger.

However, their seriousness should not be underestimated, as structural heart diseases affect about 12% of the population over 65.

What are Structural Heart Diseases (SHD)

Structural heart diseases are chronic degenerative heart diseases characterised by alterations in the structure of the heart and include valvular diseases such as aortic stenosis, mitral regurgitation and tricuspid regurgitation.

They are attributable to functional decline and ageing and require the replacement of heart valves due to their deterioration and progressive wear and tear of the heart muscle.

These valve repair or replacement operations are necessary because deteriorated valves, if left untreated, account for a 90% mortality rate five years after their diagnosis.

How to diagnose structural heart defects

Valve disease can escape diagnosis as many symptoms are non-specific; symptoms that will manifest themselves as the disease progresses.

For diagnosis, however, auscultation of the heart muscle would be sufficient to detect abnormalities and proceed with more in-depth checks and tests in order to get a correct and complete diagnostic picture.

Symptoms will be: irregular heartbeat, transient ischaemic attack, coronary artery disease, chest pain, swelling in the lower limbs, hypertension, dizziness or fainting, breathlessness and fatigue, kidney dysfunction.

In adulthood, it will be more difficult to detect structural heart disease.

It will be possible to diagnose it with an echocardiogram and cardiac MRI, chest X-ray and electrocardiogram to observe the shape of the heart and assess the rhythm of the heart muscle.

Catheterisation will be used to identify where blood vessels are blocked or narrowed.

Treatment and prevention of structural heart disease

The patient will not be prescribed any treatment for structural heart disease but tests will be used to monitor the disorder.

Treatment may be necessary in severe cases such as valve replacement, heart transplantation or open-heart surgery.

In the area of prevention, if the structural heart disorder should manifest itself after birth, one will aim to prevent atherosclerosis and clogged arteries by following healthy eating styles, exercising regularly, and following pharmacological treatments aimed at managing hypertension.

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