Nazarzadeh M, Pinho-Gomes AC, Byrne KS, et al. - Using Mendelian randomization, researchers assessed a UK Biobank population-based cohort including 502,602 men and women (aged 40 to 96 years at baseline) in order to examine the link between systolic blood pressure (BP) and major valvular heart disease. Valid genetic data and BP measurements were the criteria for entry. They screened 502,602 individuals, of those, 329,237 had valid genetic data and BP measurements. In this study, a higher risk of aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, and mitral regurgitation seemed to be present in correlation with genetically associated 20–mm Hg increases of elevated systolic blood pressure. A link appeared between lifetime exposure to high systolic BP and an increased risk of major valvular heart disease.