Structural heart disease is a very important area of research in modern cardiology. This disease doesn’t just block arteries; it also changes the heart’s physical structure, such as its valves, chambers, walls, and vessels. It can be congenital (present at birth) or acquired over time due to age, lifestyle, or complications from other heart conditions. Thanks to better diagnostics and treatment, healthcare providers can now better handle this life-threatening but treatable condition.
This article will teach you everything you need to know about structural heart disease, including what it is, what causes it, and the best ways to treat it. This detailed resource also stresses how important it is to get help right away.
What is Structural Heart Disease?
Structural heart disease means that the heart’s walls, valves, muscles, or chambers are not working properly. These issues can make it harder for the heart to move blood. Structural conditions change the structure of the heart, while coronary artery disease changes the blood vessels.
There are two types of this disease: congenital and acquired. Atrial septal defects and ventricular septal defects are congenital structural heart defects that are present at birth. Acquired types are degenerative valve diseases, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and conditions like mitral valve prolapse that get worse as you get older. [1] [4]
Causes of Structural Heart Disease
The causes of structural heart disease vary depending on whether it is congenital or acquired. Genetic mutations or issues occurring during foetal development frequently result in congenital defects. Some examples of acquired causes are getting older, getting infections like rheumatic fever, and having high blood pressure for a long time.
Your way of life also has a big effect. Not exercising enough, smoking, and eating poorly all make it more likely that you will have structural problems later in life. Long-term illnesses like diabetes and obesity also put more stress on the heart, which could change its shape over time. [1] [4]
Symptoms of Structural Heart Disease
If you know the signs of structural heart disease early, you can help avoid serious problems. Chest pain, trouble breathing, heart palpitations, swelling in the legs or abdomen, dizziness, and fatigue that comes on for no reason are all common warning signs. Some congenital types stay quiet until adulthood, when symptoms slowly start to show up.
Depending on which part of the heart is hurt, the symptoms are different. If the valves don’t work right, you could faint. If the septum doesn’t work right, you could hear murmurs and not get enough oxygen. These symptoms could be signs of other conditions, so a full cardiac evaluation is needed. [4]
Diagnosis of Structural Heart Disease
To accurately diagnose structural heart disease, you need advanced imaging and testing. Echocardiography is still the most important test because it lets doctors see valves and chambers in real time. Cardiac MRI and CT scans show the heart’s structure in great detail. Electrocardiograms, on the other hand, look for rhythm problems that are linked to structural problems.
Invasive tests like cardiac catheterisation are also used to check the pressure and oxygen levels in the heart. You might be told to get genetic testing if someone in your family has had congenital heart disease before. A quick and accurate diagnosis makes sure that treatment starts on time. [3] [4]
Types of Structural Heart Disease
Structural heart disease includes a lot of different problems:
Valve Disorders
Some diseases that make it hard for blood to flow normally through the heart are aortic stenosis, mitral regurgitation, and tricuspid valve dysfunction.
Septal Defects
Atrial septal defects and ventricular septal defects create abnormal openings between heart chambers, impeding efficient blood flow.
Cardiomyopathies
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, and restrictive cardiomyopathy alter the morphology and dimensions of the cardiac muscle.
Congenital Anomalies
Tetralogy of Fallot and transposition of the great arteries are examples of severe congenital structural heart disease.
Other Acquired Conditions
Endocarditis, trauma, and degenerative changes associated with ageing contribute to structural complications. [4] [10]
Risk Factors for Structural Heart Disease
There are many things that can make people more likely to get structural heart disease. Genetics is the main cause of congenital defects, but age and lifestyle choices are the main causes of acquired conditions. Having high blood pressure, being overweight, smoking, having high cholesterol, having diabetes, and not being active all increase the risk.
Pregnant women who have diabetes or a viral infection are also more likely to have babies with birth defects. To stay healthy, people who are at high risk need to get regular check-ups and screenings. [1] [10]
Complications of Structural Heart Disease
If you don’t get treatment for structural heart disease, it can cause big problems. Some of these are heart failure, arrhythmias, stroke, pulmonary hypertension, and sudden cardiac death. Valvular diseases often get worse without any warning signs before they become life-threatening. If you don’t pay attention to septal defects, they can hurt your lungs for good.
Because this disease lasts a long time, problems get worse over time. Keeping an eye on things and getting treatment right away lowers long-term risks a lot. [10]
Treatment Options for Structural Heart Disease
Treatment for structural heart disease depends on the type, severity, and overall health of the patient.
Modern medicine has made great strides, offering both surgical and minimally invasive options:
- Medications such as beta blockers, anticoagulants, and diuretics help manage symptoms.
- Transcatheter procedures like TAVR (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement) and MitraClip provide alternatives to open-heart surgery.
- Surgical interventions repair or replace damaged valves, close septal defects, or reshape heart structures.
- Lifestyle modifications, including diet, exercise, and smoking cessation, enhance treatment outcomes.
Innovations in robotics and 3D imaging have revolutionized heart surgery, making recovery quicker and safer.
Prevention of Structural Heart Disease
Structural heart disease can’t always be stopped, especially if it starts at birth. But living a healthy life can help lower your risk. It’s very important to keep your weight, cholesterol, and blood pressure in check. Not smoking or drinking, eating a balanced diet, and working out regularly will protect the heart’s structure over time.
Pregnant women should prioritize prenatal care, vaccinations, and diabetes management first to lower the risk of birth defects in their babies. Early screening also makes it easier to help people who are at risk.
Living with Structural Heart Disease
Many people with structural heart disease will have it for the rest of their lives and need ongoing care. You should see a cardiologist regularly, take the medications they give you, and change your lifestyle. Mental health support is just as important because long-term illnesses can make you feel bad emotionally.
When they are well-managed, many patients live long, productive lives. Life is better with support groups, patient education, and rehabilitation programs.
Future of Structural Heart Disease Treatment
There is hope for the future of treating structural heart disease. Getting accurate diagnoses is getting easier thanks to AI and machine learning. It may be possible to fix damaged heart tissue with stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine. Minimally invasive procedures will keep getting better, which will mean shorter hospital stays and recovery times.
Global research initiatives seek to identify biomarkers capable of predicting structural anomalies at an earlier stage, thereby enabling preventive interventions before the onset of symptoms. [2] [5]
Conclusion
Structural heart disease is a complicated but treatable condition that needs to be known about, found early, and treated with advanced methods. People can take steps to improve their heart health by knowing its causes, symptoms, and risk factors. With medical advances happening quickly, the future looks better for patients, giving them hope and longer lives.
References
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Heart development & structural diseases [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Institutes of Health; 2024 [cited 2025 Sep 24]. Available from: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/grants-and-training/funding-opportunities/heart-development-structural-diseases
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Division of cardiovascular sciences [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Institutes of Health; 2024 [cited 2025 Sep 24]. Available from: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/divisions/division-cardiovascular-sciences
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Cardiovascular branch, division of intramural research [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Institutes of Health; 2024 [cited 2025 Sep 24]. Available from: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/divisions/division-intramural-research/cardiovascular-branch
- Nguyen DT, Hays AG. Structural heart diseases. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan [cited 2025 Sep 24]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK525139/
- O’Neill BP, Sorajja P, Leon MB, Reisman M, Kodali S, Généreux P, et al. Structural heart disease interventions: year in review 2023–2024. J Am Coll Cardiol [Internet]. 2024 Jun [cited 2025 Sep 24];83(23):2245-56. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39910697/
- Généreux P, Kodali SK, Leon MB. Percutaneous structural and valvular heart disease. Korean Circ J [Internet]. 2020 Feb [cited 2025 Sep 24];50(2):95-113. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7044099/
- ClinicalTrials.gov. Feasibility study of the Tendyne Mitral Valve System in Mitral Annular Calcification (NCT03539458) [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. National Library of Medicine; 2018 [cited 2025 Sep 24]. Available from: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03539458
- ClinicalTrials.gov. AHEAD: European feasibility study of the Cardiovalve Transfemoral Mitral Valve System (NCT03339115) [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. National Library of Medicine; 2017 [cited 2025 Sep 24]. Available from: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03339115
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Decision memo for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) (CAG-00430R) [Internet]. Baltimore (MD): CMS; 2019 [cited 2025 Sep 24]. Available from: https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/view/ncacal-decision-memo.aspx?NCAId=257
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About heart valve disease [Internet]. Atlanta (GA): CDC; 2023 [cited 2025 Sep 24]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/about/heart-valve-disease.html
