Mengmeng, C., Floran, S., Vladimir, C., Lena, S., Stefan, F., Götz, G., U, H.P., Stefan, S., & Caroline, M. (2026). Frequency and natural course of American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association valvular heart disease stages in the general population: results from the population-based STAAB cohort study.. Heart (British Cardiac Society). https://doi.org/10.1136/heartjnl-2025-326443
Mengmeng C, Floran S, Vladimir C, Lena S, Stefan F, Götz G, et al. Frequency and natural course of American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association valvular heart disease stages in the general population: results from the population-based STAAB cohort study.. Heart (British Cardiac Society). 2026; doi: 10.1136/heartjnl-2025-326443
Mengmeng C, Floran S, Vladimir C, et al. Frequency and natural course of American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association valvular heart disease stages in the general population: results from the population-based STAAB cohort study.[J]. Heart (British Cardiac Society). 2026. DOI: 10.1136/heartjnl-2025-326443.
@article{mengmeng2026,
author = {Chen Mengmeng and Sahiti Floran and Cejka Vladimir and Schmidbauer Lena and Frantz Stefan and Gelbrich Götz and Heuschmann Peter U and Störk Stefan and Morbach Caroline},
title = {Frequency and natural course of American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association valvular heart disease stages in the general population: results from the population-based STAAB cohort study.},
journal = {Heart (British Cardiac Society)},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1136/heartjnl-2025-326443},
note = {PMID: 41365670},
}
TY - JOUR AU - Chen Mengmeng AU - Sahiti Floran AU - Cejka Vladimir AU - Schmidbauer Lena AU - Frantz Stefan AU - Gelbrich Götz AU - Heuschmann Peter U AU - Störk Stefan AU - Morbach Caroline TI - Frequency and natural course of American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association valvular heart disease stages in the general population: results from the population-based STAAB cohort study. T2 - Heart (British Cardiac Society) PY - 2026 DO - 10.1136/heartjnl-2025-326443 AN - PMID:41365670 ER -
BACKGROUND: Valvular heart disease (VHD) is described in American guidelines as a progressive disease continuum: stage A (at-risk), stage B (progressive), stage C/D (severe). We aimed to identify frequency and course of VHD stages as well as determinants of VHD progression in the general population. METHODS: The STAAB cohort study (Characteristics and Course of Heart Failure STAges A/B and Determinants of Progression) recruited a prestratified, population-based sample of residents (30-79 years) from Würzburg, Germany, without self-reported heart failure. Participants underwent baseline transthoracic echocardiography (2013-2017) with follow-up after 3 years (2017-2021). VHD progression was defined as an increase in stage or valve intervention. RESULTS: Of 4943 participants (mean age 55 years, 53% women) VHD stages were: 24% no VHD, 54% stage A, 21% stage B and 0.3% stage C/D. Prevalence of VHD increased with advancing age. Among 3833 participants who were followed for a median of 34 months, 10% in stage A and 1.3% in stage B progressed. Progression rates were highest in participants aged 60-69 and 70-79 years, at rates of 15% and 25% for stage A and 1.6% and 2.6% for stage B, respectively. In multivariable age-adjusted models, elevated E/e' predicted progression from stage A, while elevated N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) predicted progression from stage B. Continuous analysis of aortic stenosis progression showed associations with older age, higher body mass index, diabetes and baseline peak velocity. CONCLUSION: In a large community cohort, VHD was common, especially at older ages, and about 11% of individuals progressed within 3 years. Echocardiographic indices (E/e') and the biomarker NT-proBNP emerged as stage-specific predictors, supporting their potential role, along with age and metabolic factors, in identifying individuals at higher risk for progression.