Patiala, July 11
A six-year clinical analysis conducted by renowned interventional cardiologist Dr. Rajneesh Kapoor has revealed a significant rise in the number of younger patients seeking Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)—a minimally invasive alternative to open-heart surgery for severe aortic valve stenosis—even though international medical guidelines generally recommend the procedure for older or high-surgical-risk patients.
Addressing a press conference in Patiala on Saturday, Dr. Kapoor, who hails from the city and currently serves as Chairman of Interventional Cardiology at Medanta, shared findings from his study involving 305 patients evaluated for severe aortic valve stenosis between 2020 and March 2026.
Sharp Rise in Patients Under 60
According to the study, patients aged 60 years and above accounted for 93% of all cases evaluated for aortic valve replacement between 2020 and 2024. During the same period, patients aged 50–60 years represented 5%, while those under 50 accounted for only 1%, reflecting the long-established understanding that severe aortic stenosis is primarily an age-related disease.
However, the trend changed significantly between 2024 and March 2026. The proportion of patients below 60 years nearly doubled to 8–10% of the total cases. Most notably, the number of patients under 50 years of age increased nearly seven-fold compared to the previous four-year period.
Internet Emerging as the Biggest Influencer
To identify the reasons behind the growing interest among younger patients, researchers asked participants how they first learned about TAVR through a structured questionnaire.
Among patients below the age of 50, 98% said they first came across TAVR through the internet, including social media platforms, health websites, online forums and video-sharing platforms, rather than through consultations with doctors.
Dr. Kapoor said the findings confirm a growing trend observed in clinical practice, where incomplete or misleading information available online is increasingly influencing healthcare decisions.
“We have observed in our clinic, and this study substantiates it, that incomplete and incorrect information circulating on social media is now directly influencing healthcare decision-making by patients—sometimes against their own medical interest,” he said.
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Age Plays a Crucial Role in Treatment Choice
Dr. Kapoor explained that aortic stenosis, a condition caused by narrowing of the heart’s aortic valve, is predominantly associated with ageing. Studies estimate its prevalence at 2–3% among people over 65 years, increasing to nearly 7% in those above 80 years. With ageing populations worldwide, the number of cases is expected to almost double by 2050.
In contrast, severe aortic stenosis in patients under 60 is relatively uncommon and is more frequently linked to congenital bicuspid aortic valves rather than age-related valve degeneration.
Patients Should Seek Medical Advice, Not Online Prescriptions
Dr. Kapoor emphasized that while increased public awareness about advanced treatment options is encouraging, it should not replace professional medical consultation.
“Public awareness of new treatment options is a positive development, but awareness without complete information can become a trap,” he said.
He urged patients to use online resources to become better informed before consulting specialists rather than deciding on treatment themselves.
“Use the internet to ask better questions of your doctor—not to self-prescribe a procedure. The right treatment depends on your age, anatomy and overall risk profile, and should always be decided in consultation with a qualified heart specialist,” he advised.
Dr. Kapoor is among India’s highest-volume TAVR specialists, performing approximately 75–80 TAVR procedures annually, making him one of the country’s leading experts in this rapidly evolving field of cardiac intervention.
