Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40113625›Full record

Observational studyAging clinical and experimental research2025

The PREVASC study: Prospective REgistry of Valve disease in Asymptomatic Italian elderly SubjeCts.

Nazario Carrabba, Mattia Alexis Amico, Gherardo Busi, Matteo Vannini, Filippo Bruscoli, Salvatore Fortunato, Luciano Arcari, Emilio Di Lorenzo, Giampaolo Luzi, Francesco Clemenza and 10 more

Erratum issuedAbstract readObservational StudyMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Aging clinical and experimental research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

20 authors.

Nazario CarrabbaCardio-Thoracic-Vascular Department, A.O.U Careggi, Florence, Italy. n.carrabba@virgilio.it.
Mattia Alexis AmicoCardio-Thoracic-Vascular Department, A.O.U Careggi, Florence, Italy.
Gherardo BusiCardio-Thoracic-Vascular Department, A.O.U Careggi, Florence, Italy.
Matteo VanniniCardio-Thoracic-Vascular Department, A.O.U Careggi, Florence, Italy.
Filippo BruscoliCardio-Thoracic-Vascular Department, A.O.U Careggi, Florence, Italy.
Salvatore FortunatoA.R.C.A. (Regional Associations of Outpatient Cardiologists), Rome, Italy.
Luciano ArcariA.R.C.A. (Regional Associations of Outpatient Cardiologists), Rome, Italy.
Emilio Di LorenzoMedical-Surgical Department of the Heart and Blood Vessels, San Giuseppe Moscati Hospital, Avellino, Italy.
Giampaolo LuziCardiovascular Department, San Carlo Hospital, Potenza, Italy.
Francesco ClemenzaCardiology Unit of ISMETT (Mediterranean Institute for Transplantation and Advanced Specialized Therapies), Palermo, Italy.
Francesco AmicoCardiology Unit, AOE Cannizzaro, Catania, Italy.
Giuseppe PesBinaghi Hospital, Cagliari, Italy.
Marco MerloCardio-Thoracic-Vascular Department, A.S.U.G.I, Trieste, Italy.
Gianfranco SinagraCardio-Thoracic-Vascular Department, A.S.U.G.I, Trieste, Italy.
Giovambattista DesideriGeriatrics and Long-Term Care Unit, Avezzano District Hospital, Avezzano, Italy.
Francesco VettaDepartment of Clinical, Internal, Anesthesiologic and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy.
Alessandro MugelliDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Niccolo MarchionniDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. niccolo.marchionni@unifi.it.
Alessandro BoccanelliUnicamillus University, Rome, Italy.
PREVASC Working Group, Italian Society of Geriatric Cardiology (SICGe)

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimsValvular heart disease (VHD) is the third leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity, with its incidence and public health impact projected to increase significantly. This study adopts a novel perspective, focusing on elderly individuals residing in rural areas, highlighting the unique dynamics of small-town settings.

methodsThis multicenter, observational study was conducted from May 2022 to September 2023, under the coordination of the AOU Careggi Echo Core-Lab, which managed the entire screening program. In 10 small Italian villages, each municipality facilitated the enrollment of asymptomatic individuals aged ≥ 65 years, with no prior VHD history, through voluntary participation. Participants were grouped into three age categories (65-69, 70-74, and ≥ 75 years) and underwent a thorough evaluation, including a Quality of Life (QoL) questionnaire and comprehensive echocardiographic assessment focusing on VHD detection and grading.

resultsAmong 1,113 participants, the prevalence and severity of VHD showed a significant increase with age (p < 0.0001). Remarkably, 94% of individuals aged ≥ 75 years had at least one valvular defect, with 22.5% presenting moderate or severe valvulopathy, including a prevalence of 4.8% for moderate or severe aortic valve stenosis and 7.5% for mitral regurgitation. Right-sided valvulopathies followed a similar trend, affecting 71.9% of elderly participants. QoL evaluations revealed a generally positive perceived health status, with a mean score of 77 ± 16.

conclusionsOur registry highlights that the prevalence of VHD in asymptomatic individuals over 65 years living in small Italian communities is substantial, increases with age, and is predominantly degenerative in etiology. Notably, most individuals with undiagnosed VHD perceived themselves as healthy.

Indexed as

Heart Valve DiseasesAgedAged, 80 and overEchocardiographyFemaleHumansItalyMalePrevalenceProspective StudiesQuality of LifeRegistriesEchocardiographyElderlyRisk factors preventionScreening programSmall communitiesValvular heart disease

Identifiers

PMID40113625
PMCPMC11926018

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.