ObjectiveTo explore the echocardiography characteristics of aortic valve disease (AVD) among different ethnic groups in Xinjiang.MethodsThe data of a large sample (n=130 358) of different ethnic groups in Xinjiang based on the results of echocardiography were analyzed between January 2011 and December 2016, and the echocardiography characteristics of AVD among the Han nationality and different ethnic minorities in Xinjiang were summarized.ResultsThe study recruited 130 358 patients, involving Han nationality (58.49%) and 33 ethnic minorities. The ethnic minorities included the Uygur (27.42%), Kazak (7.47%), Hui nationality (3.48%) and other minorities (3.13%). Apart from Uygur, Kazak and Hui nationality, no description was given due to the small sample sizes of other minorities (3.13%). In the total study population, the prevalence of aortic valve stenosis (AS) was 0.44%, and the prevalence of severe AS was 0.10%; the prevalence of aortic valve regurgitation (AR) was 0.37%, and the prevalence of severe AR was 0.02%; the prevalence of aortic valve calcification (AVC) was 6.51%, and the highest AVC prevalence existed in ≥75 years old age group (24.45%); the prevalence of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) was 0.54%, and the highest BAV prevalence existed in 18-44 years old age group (0.86%). Among different ethnic groups, the Uygur had the highest prevalence in terms of AS (0.60%), AR (0.63%) and BAV (0.88%), while the Han had the lowest prevalence in terms of AS (0.37%) and AR (0.24%), but the highest AVC prevalence existed in the Han nationality (7.83%). The etiology of AVD showed that the degenerative valve changes was the main cause of AS with the largest proportion of 61.97%. While the aorta root diseases (35.97%) and BAV (22.87%) were the main etiology of AR.ConclusionsIn Xinjiang the overall prevalence of AVD is low. In the elderly population, the Uygur, Kazak and Hui nationality have the higher AS prevalence than the Han nationality does. Different ethnic groups have different AVD characteristics based on the echocardiography. In the Uygur group, AVD presents the younger age of onset; the prevalence of BAV is the highest in the Uygur population, while the lowest in the Hui nationality.
