A large study presented at the British Cardiovascular Society conference in Manchester has revealed that women, ethnic minority groups, and people from poorer communities in England are less likely to receive proper treatment after being diagnosed with a serious heart condition known as aortic stenosis.
Aortic stenosis is the most common form of heart valve disease in the U.K. It occurs when the aortic valve—the main valve that controls blood flow from the heart—becomes stiff or narrowed.
This makes it harder for blood to leave the heart, eventually causing fatigue, chest pain, and in severe cases, heart failure or death.
For patients who begin showing symptoms and do not receive timely treatment, around half will die within two years.
The main treatment for this condition is replacing the damaged valve through surgery or a less invasive keyhole procedure.
The new research, led by the University of Leicester, looked at anonymized health records from almost 155,000 patients diagnosed with aortic stenosis between 2000 and 2022.
This is one of the largest studies of its kind, offering a broad view of real-world medical practices in England.
The findings showed a clear pattern of unequal treatment. Women were 11% less likely than men to be referred to a heart specialist after diagnosis, and 39% less likely to undergo the necessary valve replacement procedure.
Dr. Anvesha Singh, a senior researcher and cardiologist involved in the study, explained that while it was previously believed that women were simply diagnosed less often, this new data suggests they are diagnosed but not treated as frequently. This raises serious concerns about potential bias or systemic issues in medical decision-making.
Patients living in the most deprived communities were also less likely to receive specialist care and were 4% less likely to get their valve replaced compared to those in wealthier areas. This suggests that socioeconomic status plays a role in access to life-saving heart treatment.
The study also highlighted troubling trends for ethnic minority groups. South Asian patients were 27% less likely to receive a valve replacement, and Black patients were 48% less likely to undergo the procedure compared to white patients.
Interestingly, while these groups were more likely to be referred to a specialist, researchers believe these referrals may not have been for the valve condition itself, but for other heart-related issues.
Dr. Sonya Babu-Narayan, a cardiologist and director at the British Heart Foundation, which supported the study, called the findings “concerning.” She emphasized the urgent need for more research to understand why these disparities exist and how they can be fixed. Without action, she warned, many people will continue to miss out on treatment that could save their lives.
This study sheds light on long-standing inequalities in the healthcare system. While aortic stenosis can affect anyone, the care that follows a diagnosis seems to depend heavily on who the patient is, where they live, and what background they come from.
With further research and awareness, experts hope the healthcare system can be made fairer and more responsive to everyone in need—no matter their gender, race, or income level.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about top 10 foods for a healthy heart, and how to eat right for heart rhythm disorders.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how to eat your way to cleaner arteries, and salt and heart health: does less really mean more?
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
