Understanding Structural Heart Murmurs

Posted in Eko Blog
Summary: Structural heart murmurs can be early indicators of serious heart conditions, so early detection and treatment are crucial for improving patient outcomes. Eko Health's innovative solution, the SENSORA™ Cardiac Disease Detection Platform, significantly enhances the ability to detect and characterize heart murmurs during routine check-ups.1
Doctor listens to older male patient's heart with a digital stethoscope

 

Structural heart murmurs result from turbulent blood flow caused by changes within the heart's structure, such as congenital defects, valve abnormalities, or other heart diseases. These murmurs differ from innocent heart murmurs, which are harmless and not associated with any underlying heart disease.2 Early detection of structural heart disease, e.g., through murmur detection, is crucial to prevent complications such as heart failure and stroke.3 

Causes and risk factors

Structural heart murmurs are often linked to various heart conditions, including: 

  • Congenital heart defects: Present from birth, these defects affect the structure and function of the heart.4 
  • Heart valve calcification: Hardening or thickening of heart valves, typically due to aging-related processes.5 
  • Endocarditis: An infection of the heart valves or inner lining of the heart chambers.6 
  • Rheumatic fever: An inflammatory reaction that can develop after a streptococcus infection, potentially damaging specific heart valves.7 

Risk factors for structural heart murmurs include a family history of heart conditions, prior episodes of rheumatic fever, prior endocarditis, and chronic diseases such as high blood pressure or diabetes that strain the heart.8 

Common symptoms

Common symptoms of structural heart murmurs can vary and often mimic other health issues, making early diagnosis both challenging and crucial. 

These symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue, lightheadedness or fainting, and swelling in the legs or abdomen. Recognizing these signs early can lead to timely medical intervention and better outcomes.8 

Addressing the impact

Structural heart murmurs are a significant health concern. Here are key statistics highlighting their impact: 

  • Prevalence: Nearly 1% of U.S. births (about 40,000 annually) involve congenital heart defects, a major cause of structural heart murmurs.4 
  • Hospitalizations: Cardiovascular diseases, including those detected by murmurs, cause millions of hospitalizations annually in the U.S.9 
  • Mortality: Upwards of 50% of individuals with severe structural heart disease die within five years if left untreated.10 

    • Importance of early detection

    Early detection and diagnosis of structural heart murmurs are crucial for improving patient outcomes. Identifying heart murmurs early can significantly reduce morbidity and mortality, as they can indicate a range of conditions from benign to serious heart diseases. Early diagnosis enables timely intervention, such as medication and lifestyle changes to manage risk factors or surgical valve replacement, if advanced disease is present.8 

    Heart murmurs are often detected during routine wellness exams, underscoring the importance of attending annual check-ups. Cardiac auscultation, a stethoscope-based physical exam technique used by almost all clinicians, can identify murmurs indicative of changes in cardiovascular anatomy and physiology.

    Eko's mission is to empower clinicians with advanced tools to detect and manage heart conditions effectively.

    The SENSORA™ Cardiac Disease Detection Platform detects structural murmurs through rapid AI-based analysis of heart sounds and ECG signals collected with a modern digital stethoscope.

    The FDA-cleared suite of algorithms can distinguish between innocent and structural murmurs via smart stethoscopes in less than a minute.1 

    Through this innovative technology, Eko ensures early and effective detection of heart murmurs, leading to increased quality of life and reduced mortality.

    Together, we can create a future where structural heart murmurs are detected early, leading to better patient outcomes and a significant reduction in heart disease-related complications and deaths.

    Want to learn more about murmurs? View Eko’s clinical education articles. 

     

    References:

    1. Rancier, M. A., Israel, I., Monickam, V., Prince, J., Verschoore, B., & Currie, C. (2023). Real World Evaluation of an Artificial Intelligence Enabled Digital Stethoscope for Detecting Undiagnosed Valvular Heart Disease in Primary Care. Circulation, 148, A13244.

    2. American Heart Association editorial staff. “Abnormal and ‘Innocent’ Heart Murmurs.” Www.Heart.Org, American Heart Association, 3 June 2024.

    3. Thomas SL, Heaton J, Makaryus AN. Physiology, Cardiovascular Murmurs. [Updated 2023 Jul 17]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan.

    4. “About Congenital Heart Defects.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed 9 Aug. 2024.

    5. “Heart Valve Disease.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 22 Nov. 2023.

    6. “Endocarditis.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Accessed 9 Aug. 2024.

    7. “About Rheumatic Fever.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed 9 Aug. 2024.

    8. Cleveland Clinic medical. “Structural Heart Disease: Types, Symptoms & Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic. Accessed 9 Aug. 2024.

    9. Tajeu, Gabriel S., et al. “Cost of cardiovascular disease event and cardiovascular disease treatment-related complication hospitalizations in the United States.” Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, vol. 17, no. 3, 8 Feb. 2024.

    10. Sidney, Stephen, et al. “Association between aging of the US population and heart disease mortality from 2011 to 2017.” JAMA Cardiology, vol. 4, no. 12, 1 Dec. 2019, p. 1280.

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