Is mild tricuspid regurgitation a heart disease?

Tricuspid regurgitation, if mild or trivial, with no significant structural or valvular abnormalities of the heart, is not considered heart disease but rather a physiological phenomenon. For example, some children may present with an audible murmur; however, echocardiography reveals only trivial tricuspid regurgitation—this finding does not indicate heart disease but reflects a normal, physiological variant. In contrast, moderate to severe tricuspid regurgitation warrants investigation for underlying causes and is classified as heart disease. Examples include Ebstein’s anomaly (a congenital malformation involving downward displacement of the tricuspid valve), intrinsic developmental abnormalities of the tricuspid valve itself, or acquired conditions such as hyperthyroidism or other endocrine disorders. Rheumatic heart disease may also affect the tricuspid valve. Severe tricuspid regurgitation is therefore considered a form of heart disease.