A new nationwide study has found that valvular heart disease (VHD) affects more than 8 percent of older adults in the United States, underscoring a growing public health concern as the nation’s population continues to age. The findings were presented at the 2025 Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) conference held in San Francisco from October 25 to 28.

Led by Dr. Michael Brener from the New York-Presbyterian Columbia University Irving Medical Center, the study analyzed data from 3,000 individuals aged 65 to 85 years, enrolled from all 50 states between April 2022 and April 2025. Researchers found that 8.2 percent of participants had moderate or greater VHD, representing an estimated 4.7 million Americans.

The study also revealed a clear link between age and disease prevalence. Among participants aged 65 to 69 years, 5.1 percent were affected, while the rate climbed steadily to 14.7 percent among those aged 80 to 85. The most common type of valvular disease identified was tricuspid regurgitation, followed by aortic stenosis, mitral regurgitation, and aortic regurgitation.

When researchers included mild-to-moderate forms of the condition, the prevalence rose to 18.4 percent — equivalent to about 10.6 million people nationwide. Again, age played a significant role, with rates increasing from 12.1 percent among those aged 65 to 69 to 31.4 percent in the oldest group. Tricuspid regurgitation emerged as the most common overall, affecting more than one in ten older adults.

“These findings clearly show that the prevalence of these conditions is substantial and will continue to grow over the next several decades as the population continues to age,” said coauthor Dr. David Cohen from St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center in Roslyn, New York.

Experts say the study highlights the urgent need for expanded screening and early intervention programs for older adults. As life expectancy rises, the burden of valvular heart disease is expected to increase significantly, placing greater demands on healthcare systems and the need for advanced transcatheter and surgical therapies.

One of the study’s authors disclosed affiliations with the biopharmaceutical and medical device industries.