Figure 1: Follow-up patterns in patients diagnosed with bicuspid
aortic valve by echocardiogram
Flow-chart of patient cardiology follow-up and echocardiogram studies
following initial ECHO (2013-2018). Follow-up was determined if there
was at least one recorded appointment with outpatient cardiology or
outpatient cardiothoracic surgery following the initial ECHO in this
study. Recorded follow-up lasted until January 2020. Unconfirmed BAV
diagnosis was determined if the ECHO described the aortic valve as
“cannot rule out bicuspid valve”, “possible bicuspid valve”, or
“unclear if bicuspid” and further ECHO studies did not clarify. BAV
reversal was determined if a follow-up echocardiogram stated “tricuspid
aortic valve”.