Increasing valvular disease diagnosis
In the BRIC countries, valvular heart diseases are becoming a significant health concern. In India and China, aging populations combined with lifestyle changes such as high blood pressure and sedentary habits are contributing to more cases of aortic and mitral valve diseases. In Brazil and Russia, rheumatic heart disease remains a factor in younger populations, adding to the overall burden. Growing awareness and improved diagnostic capabilities, such as echocardiography and cardiac imaging centers in urban areas, are helping detect these conditions earlier and more accurately.
Access to traditional surgical treatment is often limited in many parts of the BRIC countries. Rural populations may face logistical challenges in reaching specialized heart centers, and older patients with comorbidities are often considered high-risk for open-heart surgery. Transcatheter heart valves provide a less invasive alternative that can be performed in select hospitals with catheterization labs, making them an attractive solution for both physicians and patients. As a result, adoption of these therapies is growing steadily in urban and semi-urban healthcare settings.
Government initiatives and public-private partnerships are also supporting the adoption of minimally invasive heart care. Several cardiac centers are focusing on training interventional cardiologists and expanding infrastructure for catheter-based procedures. Coupled with increasing patient awareness of treatment options, the rising prevalence of valvular heart disease across BRIC nations is driving demand for transcatheter heart valves as a safer, accessible, and effective therapy.
Mitral & tricuspid THV opportunity expansion
While aortic valve interventions have been the main focus historically, the BRIC region is observing a growing clinical interest in mitral and tricuspid valve therapies. Urban hospitals in China, India, and Brazil are beginning to adopt transcatheter solutions for these complex valves, supported by advanced imaging and experienced interventional teams. In Russia, centers in Moscow and Saint Petersburg are piloting procedures for high-risk patients, signaling emerging opportunities in structural heart disease management.
Many patients with mitral or tricuspid valve disorders are elderly or have other medical conditions that make conventional surgery risky. Transcatheter therapies offer a minimally invasive solution, reducing recovery time and procedural complications. In countries with dense populations and limited hospital capacity for open-heart procedures, this approach allows more patients to receive timely treatment. Physicians are confident in selecting appropriate candidates, which drives procedural uptake.
For device manufacturers, the expansion into mitral and tricuspid interventions represents a strategic growth opportunity. Collaborating with hospitals to provide training, procedure support, and clinical data can accelerate adoption. As awareness increases among clinicians and patients across BRIC countries, the mitral and tricuspid valve segment is expected to become a key growth area in the transcatheter heart valve market, complementing the established aortic valve business.
