Aortic Stenosis Resources for Health Care Professionals

Together, we can make a difference.

The Target: Aortic Stenosis quality improvement program exists to enhance the patient experience from symptom onset to appropriate diagnosis and follow-through, to timely treatment and disease management. See below for guideline, clinical and patient educational resources.

Guideline Resources:

Valvular Heart Disease Guidelines (website)

Key Implications for Clinicians in the 2020 ACC/AHA Guideline for the Management of Patients with Valvular Heart Disease

In your evaluation of patients with suspected valvular heart disease, learn the diagnostic strategies for early detection of valvular disease and appropriate long-term management. Discover appropriate tools for assessment and intervention based on valvular disease stage, specifically in cases of mitral regurgitation and aortic stenosis.

Launch Webinar

Resources mentioned in the webinar

Clinical Resources:

Thanks to the facilities participating in the Target: Aortic Stenosis program, several key areas have been identified along the patient journey where barriers to care exist. These key areas include: 

  • Identification of patients diagnosed with moderate or severe aortic stenosis
  • Once identified, urgently moving the patient through the journey to appropriate definitive treatment
  • Variations in the multidisciplinary and shared decision-making process

To learn more regarding the Target: Aortic Stenosis program and the suggested best practices and solutions from experts in the field addressing these barrier to care, please see the resources below.  

Does Your Hospital Target: Aortic Stenosis? Learn How to Get Involved

AHA’s newest quality program, Target: Aortic Stenosis, and hear from phase 1 pilot sites who overcame barriers in identifying their initial patient population.

Podcast:
Undertreatment of Aortic Stenosis, a Deadly Heart Valve Disease

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This episode discusses undertreatment of aortic stenosis, one of the most common and serious – but undertreated – heart valve diseases. Hear from two experts on the subject: Dr. Brian Lindman, M.D., MSCI, medical director of the Structural Heart and Valve Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Dr. Sammy Elmariah, M.D., MPH, chief of interventional cardiology and UCSF Health. Tune in to learn about the consequences of undertreating aortic stenosis, potential solutions, and more. Undertreatment of Aortic Stenosis, a Deadly Heart Valve Disease


Podcast: Undertreatment of Aortic Stenosis, a Deadly Heart Valve Disease

NEW! Current Management of Aortic Stenosis: A Guideline-Based Approach
Join Dr. Michael Mack, Medical Director, Cardiothoracic Surgery for Baylor Scott & White and Chairman of BSW The Heart Hospital, Plano Research Center as he discusses current management of Aortic Stenosis. Some of the best practices and solutions discussed in this video include:

  • The need to facilitate access to care in underserved populations
  • No follow-up after echo – examples of potential solutions
  • Evaluation of those with suspected heart disease – specific examples of testing
  • Clinical decision making – a multi-disciplinary heart team approach
  • Shared decision making – Who should be included and factors
  • Treatment decisions – specific algorithm that is guideline based
  • Testing recommendations after AVR

Download Presentation Slides on Current Management of Aortic Stenosis

Undertreatment of Aortic Stenosis: A Conversation to Understand the Problem and Consider Solutions

Join Dr. Brian Lindman, Dr. Sammy Elmariah and a diverse group of experts from across the country – representing interventional cardiology, echocardiography, surgery and nursing perspectives as they address the undertreatment of patients with aortic stenosis. Some of the best practices and treatments discussed in this video include:

  • The use of class 1 recommendations for AVR – a guideline-based approach
  • Team-based care necessity
  • Increasing accuracy and decreasing variability in echo reports
    • Categorization based on totality of evidence, not just valve area
    • Utilizing two sonographers reading report
    • Specific language in conclusion in summary report in bold
    • Group review on reads on regular basis to reduce variability
  • All AVRs should go to Heart Valve Team, including SAVRs, to make sure the choices are discussed
  • Shared decision making
  • The need for a structured process to move patient quickly to definitive treatment
  • Referring patients early and use a team approach within a system
  • Need for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital strategies for patient surveillance
  • Building relationships through outreach and feedback
  • Echo reporting techniques
    • Electronic notification to ordering physician
    • Highlight guideline recommendations and need for referral
  • Move to a screening point of care echo based on age
  • Artificial intelligence (AI) based evaluation of ECGs to identify

Download Presentation Slides on Undertreatment of Aortic Stenosis

National Introduction to the American Heart Association's Initiative, Target: Aortic Stenosis™

Join Dr. Clyde Yancy, Northwestern Memorial Hospital an Dr. J. Matthew Brennan, Duke Triangle Heart Associates, as they introduce you to the American Heart Association’s national initiative, Target: Aortic Stenosis. In this presentation, Dr. Brennan will outline the issues surrounding the Aortic Stenosis patient pathway, including detection and gaps in diagnosis, referral, treatment, public awareness, and disparities in care. Dr. Yancy reviews what the AHA is doing to address these issues with our new pilot program built on the framework of our longstanding and trusted heart and vascular quality programs. Edwards Lifesciences is the national sponsor of American Heart Association’s Target: Aortic Stenosis. Some of the best practices and treatments discussed in this video include:

  • Valve Replacement means higher quality of life as well as reducing the cost of care
  • Need for more public awareness – coordinated nationally and locally
  • Need to increase accuracy of stethoscope use
  • Move forward with echocardiogram in patients with unexplained murmurs
  • Need for routine surveillance
  • Need multiple doppler views for appropriate severity grading
  • Evaluate full spectrum of echo criteria when determining severity
  • Must exercise stress test and use biomarkers for asymptomatic patients
  • Shared decision making must include effective patient education
  • Delay in referral directly impacts survival rates
Download Presentation Slides on Target: Aortic Stenosis™

Written by American Heart Association editorial staff and reviewed by science and medicine advisors. See our editorial policies and staff.

Sponsor

Edwards Lifesciences is the national sponsor of American Heart Association’s Target: Aortic Stenosis.

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Learn more about Edwards Lifesciences