occur at birth is aortic stenosis – a narrowing and stiffness in the aortic valve, a valve that controls the blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body, causing symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath and swelling in the ankles and feet.
Valve conditions can often be treated with medication. But sometimes the problem requires surgery to repair or replace a damaged valve. Options for replacing a valve include open-heart surgery and less invasive transcatheter procedures.
When it comes to treatment for heart valve disease, studies have found race-related differences. For instance, a 2013 study showed African-American patients with aortic stenosis – a narrowing of the aortic valve opening – were more likely to decline valve replacement surgery than European Americans.
Horne co-authored another study published last year that found black patients hospitalized for heart valve disease at Methodist Dallas were 54 percent less likely than white patients to be referred to a specialist for surgery.
Dr. Benjamin Cruz, the lead author of that study, said the lower referral rate may be linked to doctor bias — a potential barrier that doctors should be made aware of and work to overcome starting in medical school.
“Only education will be able to break through” biases — and hopefully change physicians’ behavior, said Cruz, now a heart failure and