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Loneliness: an emerging factor in degenerative valvular heart disease
21 avril 2026
By Elodie Vaz | Published on April 21, 2026 | 3 min readValvular heart disease refers to a dysfunction of one of the four heart valves, impairing intracardiac blood flow. In its degenerative form, it is characterized by progressive stiffening or leakage of the valves, often linked to aging. This condition represents a major public health issue. According to the American Heart Association, more tha
By Elodie Vaz | Published on April 21,
2026 | 3 min read
Valvular heart disease refers to a dysfunction of one of the four heart valves, impairing intracardiac blood flow. In its degenerative form, it is characterized by progressive stiffening or leakage of the valves, often linked to aging. This condition represents a major public health issue. According to the American Heart Association, more than 440,000 deaths were associated with it in the United States between 1999 and 2020. The most common forms include aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation, which may progress to heart failure and require valve replacement.
While many causes have been identified, a new study published on April 15 in the Journal of the American Heart Association explores a relatively understudied risk factor: loneliness.
Valvular heart disease refers to a dysfunction of one of the four heart valves, impairing intracardiac blood flow. In its degenerative form, it is characterized by progressive stiffening or leakage of the valves, often linked to aging. This condition represents a major public health issue. According to the American Heart Association, more than 440,000 deaths were associated with it in the United States between 1999 and 2020. The most common forms include aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation, which may progress to heart failure and require valve replacement.
While many causes have been identified, a new study published on April 15 in the Journal of the American Heart Association explores a relatively understudied risk factor: loneliness.
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Scientific reference
Zhu Z, Wei C, et al. Loneliness and risk of degenerative valvular heart disease: a UK Biobank study. J Am Heart Assoc [Internet]. 2026 Apr 15 [cited 2026 Apr 17]; Available from:
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