An international consortium of medical societies has developed a comprehensive, patient-focused standard dataset for monitoring adults with heart valve disease, signaling a significant shift in how the condition will be tracked and evaluated globally.
The International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM) created a 16-measure dataset that moves beyond traditional device-centered approaches to prioritize patient experiences and outcomes. With heart valve disease prevalence expected to double by 2040 and triple by 2060, this standardized approach could dramatically improve patient care worldwide.
The new standard encompasses five critical outcome domains: vital status, patient-reported outcomes, disease progression, cardiac function, and treatment complications. Key measures include all-cause mortality, quality of life, mental health impact, cardiac symptoms, and potential medical complications.
Researchers recommend tracking clinic-reported outcomes at six months within the first year after diagnosis and annually thereafter, with patient-reported outcomes collected annually. This approach will enable more meaningful comparisons across healthcare systems and facilitate continuous improvement in heart valve disease management.
The collaborative effort involved representatives from multiple international cardiology and cardiac surgery societies, including the American Heart Association, European Society of Cardiology, and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, among others. By creating a globally inclusive standard, the taskforce aims to enhance understanding and treatment of heart valve disease across different healthcare environments.
