Adult Heart Disease
Adult heart disease refers to the various conditions or diseases that develop over time and present in early, mid, or late adulthood. This is different from heart conditions that you are born with (congenital heart defects).


Structure of the Heart
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Structure of the Heart

The heart’s job is to collect blood from all areas of the body, pump the blood to the lungs where it receives oxygen, collect the oxygen-rich blood from the lungs, and pump it to all areas of the body via the vascular system.

The heart is composed of four chambers. The top two chambers are called atriums, and are the “collecting” chambers of the heart. The bottom two chambers are called ventricles, and are the “pumping” chambers of the heart.

The right side of the heart collects oxygen-poor blood from the body and pumps it to the lungs. The left side of the heart collects oxygen-rich blood from the lungs and pumps it to the body. 

The left and right sides of the heart are divided by walls called septums. There is a thin-walled atrial septum that separates the right and left atria, and a muscular ventricular septum that separates the right and left ventricles.

 

Types of Adult Heart Disease
Coronary Artery Disease
Develops when the vessels that supply blood to the heart (coronary arteries) become damaged or diseased
Aortic Valve Disease
Occurs when the aortic valve connecting the left ventricle to the aorta doesn’t work properly, either because it becomes too narrowed, leaks, or a combination of both
Mitral Valve Disease
Occurs when the mitral valve connecting the left atrium and ventricle doesn’t work properly, either by leaking or becoming narrowed
Tricuspid Valve Disease
Occurs when the tricuspid valve connecting the right atrium and ventricle doesn’t work properly
Diseases of the Great Vessels
Occurs when the main vessels leading to or from the heart become damaged or enlarged, requiring repair or replacement
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Types of Adult Heart Disease

Some of the different types of heart disease that are treated by cardiothoracic surgeons include:

  • Coronary Artery Disease 
  • Aortic Valve Disease 
  • Mitral Valve Disease 
  • Tricuspid Valve Disease
  • Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms 
  • Cardiac Rhythm Disturbances 

Some cardiothoracic surgeons also can perform heart transplants for patients with heart failure. 

STS Public Reporting
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STS Public Reporting

Access surgery scores and star ratings for the Adult Cardiac Surgery Database.

Reviewed by: V. Seenu Reddy, MD, MBA, and Kendra J. Grubb, MD, MHA
April 2018

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

The STS mission is to advance cardiothoracic surgeons’ delivery of the highest quality patient care through collaboration, education, research, and advocacy.