Structural Heart Disease

Quick facts about structural heart disease

  • Structural heart disease refers to conditions caused by defects or abnormalities in the heart.

  • Symptoms vary depending on the patient and type of heart defect or damage. 

  • Structural heart disease is often diagnosed at birth. Tests can confirm it at any age.

  • Treatment may include surgery to repair or replace the heart structures using implant cardiac devices and medication to manage the disease.

  • Regular monitoring is important to check for any changes.

About the condition

  • Structural heart disease refers to many different conditions caused by defects or abnormalities in the heart.

  • These can affect the valves, walls or muscle of the heart.

  • Congenital heart disease is present at birth (eg a baby born with a hole in the heart chamber).

  • Aging (wear and tear), infection or an underlying condition can lead to structural heart disease later in life.

Causes of structural heart disease

  • In a healthy heart, all four heart valves work together to pump blood.

  • Blood from the upper chambers is pumped into the lower chambers from where it gets pushed out to the lungs and vital organs.

  • If one or more of these valves is damaged or defective, it can lead to serious health problems if left untreated.

Symptoms of structural heart disease

Symptoms vary from patient to patient. Common symptoms include:   

  • Chest pain or tightening

  • Fatigue

  • Irregular heartbeat or heart palpitations

  • High blood pressure

  • Kidney dysfunction

  • Leg cramping

  • Migraines

  • Shortness of breath or difficulty exercising

  • Stroke

  • Transient ischemic attack (TIA) also known as a mini stroke

Diagnosis of structural heart disease

Structural heart disease is often diagnosed at birth. A range of tests are available to measure heart function and diagnose any problems at any stage of life.

These tests may be repeated over time to monitor how you respond to treatment.

  • Blood and urine tests – to assess a variety of health factors including organ function

  • Chest x-rays – to check the size of your heart and identify any fluid build-up

  • An electrocardiogram (EGC) – to record the electrical activity of your heart

  • An echocardiogram (echo) – to see how well your heart is pumping

  • CT imaging – to take x-ray images of blood flow, heart structure and movement

  • Cardiac MRI – to create more detailed images of your beating heart and blood vessels

  • Right heart catheterisation – to check pressures in the heart and artery leading to the lungs; and measure heart output and blood oxygen levels.

Treatment for structural heart disease

The treatment for structural heart disease depends on the condition and patient:

  • Regular monitoring is important to check for any changes or if symptoms get worse.

  • Medication may be required to manage the disease.

  • Surgery may be recommended to repair or replace the heart structures using implant cardiac devices.