On the Event

With the patient in mind, Instituto Lado a Lado pela Vida presents the Forum Heart Valve Disease Brazil, broadcasting online. Guests will discuss the journey of the patient with valvular heart disease in the public and private health systems in Brazil - what are their obstacles, the most endemic regions of the country, alerts for caregivers and the elderly, and more.

VALVULAR HEART DISEASES IN BRAZIL

About 30,000 children and teenagers are affected by cases of rheumatic fever each year in Brazil. Poor treatment of this type of infection can lead to rheumatic heart disease, which causes a large part of valve diseases in the country.

Most valve diseases, however, are due to aging. 5% of people over 75 develop aortic stenosis, for instance.

WHAT ARE VALVULAR HEART DISEASES?

The heart has four valves: mitral, aortic, pulmonary and tricuspid – all of which play a key role in the proper functioning of the organ.

Valvular heart diseases are a set of diseases caused by a malfunction of one or more valves, as in:

- The valve does not close properly, allowing the blood to recede instead of advancing. This is called valve insufficiency.

- The valve does not open properly, which makes it difficult for blood to pass through. This is called valve stenosis or obstruction.

- Both situations can happen simultaneously causing double valve injury, generating a serious scenario.