THE CASE FOR EARLY DETECTION OF STRUCTURAL HEART DISEASE: WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO IMPLEMENT SHD SCREENING PROGRAMS IN EUROPE

Structural heart diseases (SHD) are set of cardiovascular diseases affecting the structure of the valves, atria, ventricles, and blood vessels in the heart. The majority of these conditions are degenerative, which means that they primarily affect the elderly. It is estimated that 14 million people in Europe were living with SHD in 2020, and that by 2050, this cipher will increase to 23 million.