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.

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. This effort aims to enhance both foundational research and practical outcomes in the field.

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.

Given the high prevalence of rheumatic heart disease in developing countries, this study has made a substantial contribution to understand the epidemiological burden of valvular pathology within the community. The findings have provided essential data to inform nationwide health policy decisions and support the development of targeted screening strategies for early detection and intervention.

This pioneering effort represents a significant advancement in preventive cardiology and reaffirms our commitment to community-based health outreach and evidence-driven clinical research.

Founding Members Articles

Affiliation:

Heart Valve Disease Research Center, Rajaie Cardiovascular Institute, Tehran, Iran

Researchers:

• Dr. Maryam Pourmojib General Practitioner (GP)
• Dr. Pourya Kanani General Practitioner (GP)
• Dr. Yousef Rezaei General Practitioner (GP)
• Dr. Mostafa Mousavizadeh General Practitioner (GP)
• Dr. Shadi Peighambari General Practitioner (GP)
• Dr. Tina Mazaheri General Practitioner (GP)
• Dr. Sepideh Banar General Practitioner (GP)
• Fahimeh Kashfi (Research Nurse)
• Bahareh Kazemborji (Research Nurse)