Korea VHD Echo Study: Surveillance of Aortic, Mitral & Tricuspid Patients - Insights From Real-world Practice

Valvular heart disease (VHD) is a growing public health concern globally, with increasing disease burden and rising interest in advanced treatment strategies such as transcatheter interventions. However, there remains a significant lack of real-world data regarding echocardiography practices, disease prevalence and progression, referral patterns, and treatment pathways. Addressing these gaps is critical for improving patient care and informing clinical decision-making. South Korea provides a unique opportunity to conduct a nationwide retrospective echocardiographic study due to its advanced healthcare infrastructure, high patient volume, and strong tradition in clinical research. The current study aims to evaluate the real-world burden and clinical journey of patients with moderate or severe valvular disease over a 10-year period, based on echocardiographic and electronic medical record (EMR) data collected from multiple tertiary centers across the country.