Lay summary
Aortic stenosis (AS) is a progressive disease that leads to build up of calcium in the main valve of the heart, reducing the ability of the heart to function. This increased workload can lead to scarring of the heart muscle, which is associated with an increased rate of heart failure and death, even after valve replacement (AVR). There are no medical therapies to slow the progression of AS. Currently, the only treatment option is an expensive heart valve replacement, which carries significant risk for the individual.
This study aims to analyse the effect of common, inexpensive medications on slowing the progression of AS and reducing the workload on the heart. By slowing the progression of AS from an early stage, we aim to increase the time to AVR and reduce the potential for scarring of the heart muscle, benefiting both the patients with AS and the health system.