A 75-year-old man with shortness of breath is most likely suffering from which valvular heart disease?

The most likely condition causing shortness of breath in a 75-year-old man is aortic stenosis. This type of valvular heart disease is characterized by the narrowing of the aortic valve opening, which impairs blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body. As the heart works harder to pump through the narrowed valve, patients often experience symptoms of heart failure, particularly shortness of breath, especially during exertion or when lying flat.

In older individuals, aortic stenosis is frequently due to age-related calcific degeneration of the valve or congenital conditions that may not have been previously diagnosed. The triad of symptoms typically associated with aortic stenosis includes exertional dyspnea, angina, and syncope. Thus, presenting with shortness of breath aligns well with this diagnosis.

Other types of valvular heart diseases also present with shortness of breath but may have different characteristics and patient demographics. For instance, while mitral regurgitation can lead to significant symptoms, it usually presents earlier in life and is often linked to conditions like mitral valve prolapse, which is less likely in this age group. Mitral stenosis, though also a possibility, is typically a consequence of rheumatic fever and may