Heart Valve Disease Research Center
Heart Valve Disease Research Center
Cardiovascular diseases remain among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. According to the Global Burden of Disease report, they have consistently ranked among the top three causes of death over the past decade. Following ischemic heart disease, valvular heart diseases are the most prevalent cardiovascular conditions, occurring either independently or alongside ischemic or congenital heart diseases.
In response to this growing concern, the Valvular Heart Disease Research Center was established in 2009 (1388 in the Iranian calendar) through the collaboration of a multidisciplinary team of cardiovascular specialists. The center is dedicated to investigating the diverse etiologies of valvular heart diseases, which include rheumatic heart disease, degenerative conditions, and infective endocarditis. These conditions, if diagnosed late, can result in severe cardiopulmonary complications and irreversible damage to the heart.
We are honored to report that the Heart Valve Disease Research Center has successfully implemented a large-scale, population-based cardiovascular screening initiative. Utilizing standardized echocardiographic assessment protocols, the program evaluated over 15,000 school-aged children for both functional and—more critically—structural cardiac abnormalities.
Beyond disease classification and diagnostic approaches, the center also explores treatment modalities, particularly the impact of prosthetic valves and repair rings used in heart valve surgeries. A key initiative involves building a comprehensive database of valvular heart disease cases at Shahid Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, with plans to integrate data from other centers nationwide.
Heart Valve Disease Research Center, Rajaie Cardiovascular Institute, Tehran, Iran