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Heart Valve Disease Awareness Week (17 – 23 February)

Australia’s response to heart valve disease is moving too slowly, putting hundreds of thousands of lives at risk. To help change that, we have launched Australia’s first ‘SLOW Symptoms’ campaign.

 

The SLOW Symptoms campaign aims to help Australians recognise the red-flag symptoms of heart valve disease and then seek early medical advice.

 

SLOW stands for:

    • Shortness of breath
    • Lightheadedness on exertion
    • Feeling Older than your years
    • Weary or unusually fatigued

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The SLOW campaign was developed and first launched in the UK by Heart Valve Voice to raise greater awareness of heart valve disease.

Australia and heart valve disease

In 2021, an estimated 600,000 Australians were living with diagnosed heart valve disease, with an estimated 250,000 people unaware they had the condition, meaning an estimated 850,000 Australians may already be affected.1

 

Australian and global heart health advocates now warn heart valve disease is “the next cardiac epidemic”, driven by an ageing population and persistently low awareness. Global projections suggest the number of people living with heart valve disease will double by 2040 and triple by 2060.

Applied to Australia, this could mean up to 1.7 million Australians living with heart valve disease by 2040 if urgent action is not taken.2-4

 

Despite its growing prevalence, a persistently slow response to heart valve disease is sustaining low public understanding driving the tendency to misattribute symptoms as signs of ageing. This leads to delayed diagnosis, missed treatment opportunities and avoidable complications such as heart failure, stroke, arrhythmia and premature death.5

What is heart valve disease

The heart valves play a critical role in ensuring adequate blood flow and transport of oxygen through the heart and body. Each day, the heart pumps about 7,500 litres of blood via a blood vessel system stretching more than 100,000km.1

 

Heart valve disease (HVD) is a serious and common condition where one or more of the valves in the heart do not open or close properly, which can lead to problems with blood flow. HVD is caused by either wear, disease or damage of one or more of the heart’s valves, which affects the flow of blood through the heart. It can also be present from birth (congenital heart disease).

 

If left untreated, heart valve disease can damage the heart’s valves, leading to heart failure, stroke and arrhythmia (an irregular heartbeat).

Common heart valve diseases

 

There are three potential problems that can be experienced with heart valves – narrowing, leaking or less commonly, absence or misshapen.

 

  • Aortic stenosis: This is caused when the aortic valve hardens, making the valve narrower and reducing the flow of blood. This means that the heart needs to work harder to pump blood around the body. Due to this extra workload, the muscle of the lower left chamber of the heart thickens, and the chamber may eventually become enlarged. If not treated, this can lead to heart failure and other health problems.2
  • Tricuspid: The tricuspid valve can become diseased, causing blood flow to decrease or flow back in the wrong direction. Two types of tricuspid valve disease include:
      1. Tricuspid regurgitation, where the valve is leaky or doesn’t close properly. This can allow blood to leak backwards through the valve.
      2. Tricuspid stenosis, where the valve becomes stiff and does not open enough. This can cause the flow of blood to decrease.2
  • Mital valve regurgitation or prolapse: This is when the mitral valve becomes weak and stretches out, which can mean blood flows in the wrong direction. Often the amount of blood that flows back is small and may not cause any symptoms. If the condition is more serious, blood can’t move through your heart or to the rest of your body properly, which can make you feel tired or out of breath.2

“Too many Australians are living with heart valve disease without knowing it, and by the time they do, it can be too late.” - Tanya Hall, CEO and Founder, Hearts4heart

What if you have signs of heart valve disease?

 

If detected early, heart valve disease can be effectively monitored and treated, significantly improving quality of life and survival. However, outcomes for people with untreated, severe disease are poor, with more than half of symptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis dying within two years if left untreated.

“Heart valve disease is one of the most under-recognised and under-diagnosed heart conditions we see. Heart valve disease gets worse before symptoms develop, and early symptoms such as breathlessness may be ignored or assumed to be due to age or lack of fitness. A simple stethoscope check followed by an echocardiogram is the best way to diagnose heart valve disease. Earlier detection saves lives.” - Professor David Playford, Professor of Cardiology at the University of Notre Dame

Don’t put your heart health on hold.

 

During February there are free heart screening events in Melbourne (VIC) and Perth (WA) to help Australians identify early warning signs and access timely specialist care.

 

MELBOURNE SCREENING EVENT
26 February 2026 @ 10 am – 4pmVeneto Club, 191 Bulleen Road, Bulleen
PERTH SCREENING EVENT
17 February 2026 @ 9am – 5pmHollywood Private Hospital, 115 Monash Avenue, Perth

Click here to book your free heart screening.

 

Australians are encouraged to learn the SLOW symptoms, attend a free screening event if eligible, and speak to their GP about a stethoscope check, particularly if they are over 65 or experiencing unexplained breathlessness or fatigue.

 

We always appreciate people helping us spread the word. If you would like to get involved in future Hearts4heart campaigns, please email info@hearts4heart.org.au for more information.

 

Heart Valve Disease Awareness Week 2026 is proudly supported by Medtronic, Edwards Lifesciences, Abbot and Boston Scientific.

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References:

  1. Playford D, Stewart S, Harris SA, et al. Mortality associated with moderate and severe mitral regurgitation in 608 570 men and women undergoing echocardiography. Heart 2024:heartjnl-2024-324790. DOI: 10.1136/heartjnl-2024-324790.
  2. Heart Valve Disease.
  3. Global Heart Hub. HEART VALVE DISEASE: Harnessing Innovation to Save Lives, Mitigate Costs, and Advance the Healthy Aging Agenda. March 2023. Available at: https://globalhearthub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Position-Paper-on-HVD-and-the-Healthy-Aging-Agenda.pdf
  4. Playford D, Ihdayhid AR, Guilbert-Wright P. Identifying Gaps in Detection of Heart Valve Disease in Australia: A Population Survey. Heart Lung Circ 2025;34(2):162-172. (In eng). DOI: 10.1016/j.hlc.2024.10.019.
  5. Strange G, Scalia GM, Playford D, Simon S. Uncovering the treatable burden of severe aortic stenosis in Australia: current and future projections within an ageing population. BMC Health Serv Res 2021;21(1):790. (In eng). DOI: 10.1186/s12913-021-06843-0.
hearts4heart is a health promotion charity and has DGR status ACNC Approved
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