**3. Outcome of patients with aortic stenosis**

Aortic stenosis is a chronic progressive disease. Patients with AS may remain asymptomatic for a long period of time, and the duration of the asymptomatic phase varies widely among individuals. The most frequent cause of death in symptomatic patients is sudden cardiac death. However, sudden cardiac death in asymptomatic patients with AS is very rare.

Older age, presence of atherosclerotic risk factors, valve calcification, peak aortic jet velocity, low LV EF and increase of transvalvular pressure gradient with exercise, were shown as independent predictors of poor outcome in AS patients.

The development of symptoms on exercise testing, in physically active patients with AS, predicts a very high likelihood of symptom development within 12 months. The occurrence of symptoms, in these patientsş is a correlate of poor prognosis. The increased of mortality in these patients has been reported within months of symptom onset, which is often not promptly reported by patients.
