Prognostic Impact of Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction in Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis

Impact of Baseline Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction on Midterm Outcomes in Women Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: Insight from the WIN-TAVI Registry

Limited evidence exists concerning the prognostic impact of baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) on outcomes among women undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), which we aimed to investigate in the present analysis. Patients from the Women's International Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (WIN-TAVI) registry were categorized according to baseline LVEF into 3 groups: reduced (LVEF ≤40%), mildly reduced (LVEF between 41% and 49%), and preserved (LVEF ≥50%) LVEF. The primary (Valve Academic Research Consortium 2 [VARC-2]) efficacy point was defined as a composite of mortality, stroke, myocardial infarction, hospitalization for valve-related symptoms or heart failure, or valve-related dysfunction at 1 year. The primary (VARC-2) safety end point included all-cause mortality, stroke, major vascular complication, life-threatening bleeding, stage 2 to 3 acute kidney injury, coronary artery obstruction requiring intervention, or valve-related dysfunction requiring repeated procedures. A Cox regression model was performed using the preserved LVEF group as the reference. Among the 944 patients included, 764 (80.9%) exhibited preserved, 80 (8.5%) had mildly reduced, and 100 (10.6%) had reduced LVEF. The 1-year incidence of VARC-2 efficacy end point was numerically higher in patients with reduced LVEF, albeit not resulting in a significant risk difference. Notably, reduced LVEF was associated with a higher risk of the 1-year VARC-2 safety end point, still significant after adjustment (28.0% vs 19.6%, Hazard Ratio 1.78, 95% Confidence Interval 1.12- 2.82, p = 0.014). These differences were primarily driven by trends toward increased rates of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and major vascular complications. Clinical outcomes were similar between patients with mildly reduced and preserved LVEF. In conclusion, when performed in women with reduced LVEF, TAVI was associated with a worse (VARC-2) safety profile at 1-year follow-up. In contrast, patients with mildly reduced LVEF appeared to align more closely with outcomes observed in the preserved LVEF group than with the reduced LVEF group.

Prognostic Relevance of Gradient and Flow Status in Severe Aortic Stenosis

Background: Severe aortic stenosis (AS) may present with different flow, gradient and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) patterns. Paradoxical low-flow low-gradient (PLF-LG) severe AS has a specific clinical profile, but its prognosis and management remain controversial. Our aim is to evaluate the impact of different AS patterns in the incidence of major clinical events. Methods: A retrospective observational study was carried out on all the consecutive patients diagnosed with severe AS at our tertiary hospital centre in 2021. Echocardiographic measurements were carefully reviewed, and patients were classified following current guidelines into four categories: high gradient (HG), concordant low-flow low-gradient (CLF-LG), paradoxical low-flow low-gradient (PLF-LG) and normal-flow low-gradient (NF-LG). The baseline characteristics and clinical events (heart failure admission, intervention and death) at 1-year follow-up were collected from medical records. The association between categories and events was established using Student's t test or ANOVA as required. Results: 205 patients with severe AS were included in the study (81 ± 10 years old, 52.7% female). Category distribution was as follows: HG (138, 67.3%), PLF-LG (34, 19.8%), CLF-LG (21, 10.2%) and NF-LG (12, 5.9%). During the follow-up, 24.8% were admitted due to heart failure, 68.3% received valve replacement (51.7% TAVR) and 22% died. Severe tricuspid regurgitation was more frequent in patients with PLF-LG than in HG AS (14.7% vs. 2.2%; p < 0.01). Despite no differences in intervention rate, more patients with PLF-LG (32.4% vs. 15.9%; p = 0.049) died during the evolution. Conclusions: The PLF-LG pattern was the second most common pattern of severe AS in our cohort, and it was related to a higher mortality with no differences in intervention rate. Thus, this controversial category, rather than being underestimated, should be followed closely and considered for early intervention.

Surgical aortic valve replacement in patients with reduced ejection fraction. Prevalence and follow-up

INTRODUCTION

Limited information exists on the prevalence and outcomes of patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) for aortic stenosis (AS) with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). This study aims to describe the number of AS patients undergoing SAVR with LVEF less than 55 % and quantify LVEF improvement at follow-up.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We analyzed patients undergoing SAVR with LVEF less than 55 % and the number of patients that improved the LVEF at 6 months. We defined 'improved LVEF' as a 10 % increase of LVEF compared to baseline.

RESULTS

Out of 685 patients, 11.4 % (n = 78) had SAVR with LVEF <55 %. The median pre-surgery LVEF was 45 % [IQR 37-51]. In-hospital mortality was 5.1 % (n = 4). Follow-up data for 69 patients showed 50.7 % (n = 35) had improved LVEF.

CONCLUSIONS

In our cohort, 10 % of severe AS patients underwent SAVR with LVEF <55 %, with half showing LVEF improvement at follow-up.

Left and right ventricular longitudinal systolic function following aortic valve replacement in the PARTNER 2 trial and registry

AIMS

Evaluation of left and right ventricular (RV) longitudinal systolic function may enhance risk stratification following aortic valve replacement (AVR). The study objective was to evaluate the changes in left and RV longitudinal systolic function and RV-pulmonary artery (RV-PA) coupling from baseline to 30 days and 1 year after AVR.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Left ventricular (LV) longitudinal strain (LS), tricuspid annulus plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), and RV-PA coupling were evaluated in patients from the PARTNER 2A surgical AVR (SAVR) arm (n = 985) and from the PARTNER 2 SAPIEN 3 registry (n = 719). TAPSE and RV-PA coupling decreased significantly following SAVR, but remained stable following TAVR. Lower LV LS, TAPSE, or RV-PA coupling at baseline was associated with increased risk of the composite of death, hospitalization, and stroke at 5 years [adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for LV LS < 15%: 1.24, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-1.45, P = 0.001; TAPSE < 14 mm: 1.44, 95% CI 1.21-1.73, P < 0.001; RV-PA coupling < 0.55 mm/mmHg: 1.32, 95% CI 1.07-1.63, P = 0.011]. Reduced TAPSE at baseline was the most powerful predictor of the composite endpoint at 5 years. Patients with LV ejection fraction <50% at baseline had increased risk of the primary endpoint with SAVR (HR: 1.34, 95% CI 1.08-1.68, P = 0.009) but not with TAVR (HR: 1.12, 95% CI 0.88-1.42). Lower RV-PA coupling at 30 days showed the strongest association with cardiac mortality.

CONCLUSION

SAVR but not TAVR was associated with a marked deterioration in RV longitudinal systolic function and RV-PA coupling. Lower TAPSE and RV-PA coupling at 30 days were associated with inferior clinical outcomes at 5 years. In patients with LVEF < 50%, TAVR was associated with superior 5-year outcomes.

Asymptomatic Aortic Stenosis: From Risk Stratification to Treatment

Our understanding of the natural history of aortic stenosis has significantly increased over the last decade. There have been considerable advances in the diagnosis and risk stratification of patients with aortic stenosis and in surgical and anesthetic techniques. In addition, transcatheter aortic valve replacement has established itself as a viable alternative to surgical management. Inevitably, these developments have raised questions regarding the merits of waiting for symptom onset in asymptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis before offering treatment. Recent observational and randomized trial data suggest that early intervention in asymptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis and normal left ventricular function may confer a prognostic advantage to a watchful waiting strategy. In this review, we highlight advances in the management and risk stratification of patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis with particular consideration of recent findings supporting early valvular intervention.

Combined Cardiac Damage Staging by Echocardiography and Cardiac Catheterization in Patients With Clinically Significant Aortic Stenosis

BACKGROUND

Cardiac damage (CD) staging enhances risk stratification in patients with clinically significant aortic stenosis (AS). We aimed to assess the prognostic value and reclassification rate of right heart catheterization (RHC) compared with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in characterising CD staging at 3-year follow-up in patients with clinically significant AS, to identify patients that would benefit from RHC for prognostic stratification, and to test the prognostic value of combined CD staging.

METHODS

An observational cohort study of 432 AS patients undergoing TTE and RHC were divided into moderate or asymptomatic severe (m/asAS) and symptomatic severe (ssAS) AS. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to compare survival. The accuracy in prognostic stratification was tested by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and Delong test.

RESULTS

In both cohorts, TTE- and RHC-derived staging systems had prognostic value, although the agreement between them appeared moderate. A higher proportion of patients were assigned to stage 2 by TTE than by RHC. Patients in TTE-derived stage 2 had a high reclassification rate, with 40%-50% presenting with right chamber involvement (stages 3-4) according to RHC. Discordant cases were significantly older, with higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation, markedly elevated N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, and higher indexed left atrial volume, E/e', and systolic pulmonary artery pressure vs concordant cases (P < 0.05). The combined CD staging, integrating TTE and RHC, was more accurate in predicting mortality than the TTE-derived system (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with m/asAS and ssAS, the combined CD staging, derived from TTE and RHC, was more accurate in predicting mortality than TTE alone. In a subset of AS patients, the integration of RHC may significantly improve prognostic stratification.

Low-Flow, Low-Gradient Severe Aortic Stenosis in patients with preserved or reduced ejection fraction: a systematic literature review

OBJECTIVES

A systematic review of the literature was conducted to analyze the current evidence on low-flow, low-gradient severe aortic stenosis. This analysis aimed to differentiate between subgroups of patients with reduced and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

METHODS

After conducting a systematic literature review, 35 observational studies were included. Out of these, 28 were prospective and 7 retrospective. The studies that included a mortality risk stratification of low-flow, low-gradient aortic stenosis (LF- LG AS) with both preserved and reduced LVEF were reviewed.

RESULTS

The importance of considering multiple clinical and echocardiographic variables in diagnostic evaluation and therapeutic decision-making was highlighted.

CONCLUSIONS

LF- LG AS, in any of its subgroups, is a common and challenging valve lesion. A careful assessment of severity and, in specific scenarios, a thorough reclassification is important. More high-quality studies are required to more precisely define the classification and prognosis of this entity.

Left ventricular ejection fraction: clinical, pathophysiological, and technical limitations

Risk stratification of cardiovascular death and treatment strategies in patients with heart failure (HF), the optimal timing for valve replacement, and the selection of patients for implantable cardioverter defibrillators are based on an echocardiographic calculation of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in most guidelines. As a marker of systolic function, LVEF has important limitations being affected by loading conditions and cavity geometry, as well as image quality, thus impacting inter- and intra-observer measurement variability. LVEF is a product of shortening of the three components of myocardial fibres: longitudinal, circumferential, and oblique. It is therefore a marker of global ejection performance based on cavity volume changes, rather than directly reflecting myocardial contractile function, hence may be normal even when myofibril's systolic function is impaired. Sub-endocardial longitudinal fibers are the most sensitive layers to ischemia, so when dysfunctional, the circumferential fibers may compensate for it and maintain the overall LVEF. Likewise, in patients with HF, LVEF is used to stratify subgroups, an approach that has prognostic implications but without a direct relationship. HF is a dynamic disease that may worsen or improve over time according to the underlying pathology. Such dynamicity impacts LVEF and its use to guide treatment. The same applies to changes in LVEF following interventional procedures. In this review, we analyze the clinical, pathophysiological, and technical limitations of LVEF across a wide range of cardiovascular pathologies.

Design and rationale of the evaluation of transcatheter aortic valve replacement compared to surveillance for patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis: The EARLY TAVR trial

BACKGROUND

For patients with asymptomatic, severe aortic stenosis (AS) and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction, current guidelines recommend clinical surveillance every 6 to 12 months. To date, no randomized trials have examined whether an early intervention with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) will improve outcomes among these patients.

STUDY DESIGN AND OBJECTIVES

EARLY TAVR is a prospective, randomized, controlled, and multicenter trial, with an event-based design. Asymptomatic severe AS patients (n = 900) are randomized 1:1 to either clinical surveillance or TAVR with the Edwards SAPIEN 3/SAPIEN 3 Ultra transcatheter heart valve. Patients are stratified by whether they are able to perform a treadmill stress test. The primary end point is death, stroke, or unplanned cardiovascular hospitalization. Patients who are asymptomatic but have a positive stress test will be followed in a registry and undergo aortic valve replacement as per current guidelines.

CONCLUSIONS

EARLY TAVR is the largest randomized trial to date assessing the role of early intervention among patients with asymptomatic severe AS compared to clinical surveillance and the first to study the role of TAVR.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03042104.

Early Intervention in Asymptomatic Aortic Stenosis: What Are We Waiting For?

Aortic stenosis (AS) contributes to significant cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide, and the natural history from symptoms to ventricular decompensation, heart failure, and death has been well documented. For more than 2 decades, technologies including imaging and biomarkers have shown a promising ability to detect myocardial damage associated with AS before symptoms arise. Current treatment guidelines rely heavily on symptoms or ventricular decompensation as triggers for aortic valve intervention. There is increasing appreciation of the relationship between myocardial damage due to AS before the emergence of symptoms, and a number of published randomised trials suggest a benefit to early intervention in asymptomatic AS, with additional trials actively enrolling. Future treatment paradigms may incorporate early detection of ventricular damage by noninvasive new technologies as triggers for asymptomatic intervention. Enthusiasm for early aortic valve replacement should be tempered by consideration of the competing risks of early valve intervention, but an increasing preponderance of evidence continues to suggest that earlier intervention in AS is warranted.

Incremental Value of Global Longitudinal Strain for Confirming Heart Failure-Related Symptoms in Severe Aortic Stenosis

The indications or timing of aortic valve replacement for symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) are based on a patient's life expectancy and symptoms. However, clinical decision-making may be difficult because symptoms are subjective and cannot be quantitatively assessed and confirmed. This study aimed to evaluate the association between heart failure (HF)-related symptoms and cardiac hemodynamic left ventricular deformations in patients with severe AS using transthoracic echocardiographic assessments of left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS). The medical records of patients hospitalized for AS between February 2017 and September 2019 were retrospectively screened. Independent cardiologists analyzed the transthoracic echocardiographic images of a digital echocardiography database. The cohort comprised 177 hospitalized patients with severe AS and no history of HF. The subgroup with HF-related symptoms included 87 patients, whereas that without HF-related symptoms included 90 patients. In 145 patients without atrial fibrillation, the left atrial volume index (LAVI) and LV-GLS were significantly associated with HF-related symptoms (odds ratio 1.033, 95% confidence interval 1.008 to 1.059, p = 0.011 and odds ratio 1.224, 95% confidence interval 1.118 to 1.340, p <0.0001, respectively). Moreover, the combination of brain natriuretic peptide level, LAVI, and LV-GLS showed better diagnostic accuracy than the combination of brain natriuretic peptide level and LAVI (p = 0.005). However, there were no such tendencies in 32 patients with atrial fibrillation. The HF-related symptoms in patients with severe AS were strongly linked to LV-GLS. LV-GLS showed incremental value for confirming HF-related symptoms.

Redefining cardiac damage staging in aortic stenosis: the value of GLS and RVAc

AIMS

Cardiac damage staging has been postulated as a prognostic tool in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The aims of our study are (i) to validate cardiac damage staging systems previously described to stratify patients with aortic stenosis (AS), (ii) to identify independent risk factors for 1-year mortality in patients with severe AS undergoing TAVR, and (iii) to develop a novel staging model and compare its predictive performance to that of the above mentioned.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Patients undergoing TAVR from 2017 to 2021 were included in a single-centre prospective registry. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed in all patients before TAVR. Logistic and Cox's regression analysis were used to identify predictors of 1-year all-cause mortality. In addition, patients were classified based on previously published cardiac damage staging systems, and the predictive performance of the different scores was measured.Four hundred and ninety-six patients (mean age 82.1 ± 5.9 years, 53% female) were included. Mitral regurgitation (MR), left ventricle global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) and right ventricular-arterial coupling (RVAc) were independent predictors of all-cause 1-year mortality. A new classification system with four different stages was developed using LV-GLS, MR, and RVAc. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.66 (95% confidence interval 0.63-0.76), and its predictive performance was superior compared with the previously published systems (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Cardiac damage staging might have an important role in patients' selection and better timing for TAVR. A model that includes LV-GLS, MR, and RVAc may help to improve prognostic stratification and contribute to better selection of patients undergoing TAVR.

Utility of left ventricular ejection fraction in atrial fibrillation patients without pre-existing heart failure

AIMS

Atrial fibrillation (AF) increases the risk of heart failure (HF); however, little focus has been placed on the prevention of HF in patients with AF. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is an established echocardiographic parameter in HF patients. We sought to investigate the association of LVEF with HF events in AF patients without pre-existing HF.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The Fushimi AF Registry is a community-based prospective survey of AF patients in Fushimi-ku, Japan. In this analysis, we excluded patients with pre-existing HF (defined as having one of the following: prior HF hospitalization, New York Heart Association class ≥ 2 in association with heart disease, or LVEF < 40%). Among 3233 AF patients without pre-existing HF, we investigated 2459 patients with the data of LVEF at enrolment. We divided the patients into three groups stratified by LVEF [mildly reduced LVEF (40-49%), below normal LVEF (50-59%), and normal LVEF (≥60%)] and compared the backgrounds and incidence of HF hospitalization between the groups. Of 2459 patients [mean age: 72.4 ± 10.5 years, female: 917 (37%), paroxysmal AF: 1405 (57%), and mean CHA2 DS2 -VASc score: 3.0 ± 1.6], the mean LVEF was 66 ± 8% [mildly reduced LVEF: 114 patients (5%), below normal LVEF: 300 patients (12%), and normal LVEF: 2045 patients (83%)]. Patients with lower LVEF demonstrated lower prevalence of female and paroxysmal AF (both P < 0.01), but age and CHA2 DS2 -VASc score were comparable between the three groups (both P > 0.05). During the median follow-up period of 6.0 years, 255 patients (10%) were hospitalized for HF (annual incidence: 1.9% per person-year). Multivariable Cox regression analysis demonstrated that lower LVEF strata were independently associated with the risk of HF [mildly reduced LVEF (40-49%): hazard ratio = 2.98, 95% confidence interval = 1.99-4.45 and below normal LVEF (50-59%): hazard ratio = 2.01, 95% confidence interval = 1.44-2.82, compared with normal LVEF (≥60%)] after adjustment by age, sex, type of AF, and CHA2 DS2 -VASc score. LVEF < 60% was significantly associated with the higher risk of HF hospitalization across all major subgroups without significant interaction (P for interaction; all P > 0.05). LVEF had an independent and incremental prognostic value for HF hospitalization in addition to natriuretic peptide levels in AF patients without pre-existing HF.

CONCLUSIONS

Lower LVEF was significantly associated with the higher incidence of HF hospitalization in AF patients without pre-existing HF, leading to the future risk stratification for and prevention of incident HF in AF patients.

Outcome of Patients With Both Moderate Aortic Stenosis and Moderate Mitral Stenosis

Aims

This study aimed to investigate the symptoms and prognosis of patients with both moderate aortic stenosis (AS) and mitral stenosis (MS).

Methods and Results

We studied 82 patients with moderate AS and MS diagnosed via transthoracic echocardiography. The patients had a mean age of 79 ± 13 years and 95% of patients had degenerative MS. Out of 82 patients, 34 (41%) had heart failure (HF) symptoms (New York Heart Association class ≥ Ⅱ) or a history of HF admission. Left ventricular ejection fraction, stroke volume index, atrial fibrillation, and right ventricular systolic pressure were independent determinants of HF symptoms. The median follow-up duration was 3.2 (interquartile range, 1.0-4.9) years and clinical events occurred in 48 (59%) patients, including death in 11 (13%) patients, aortic or mitral valve interventions in 22 (27%) patients, and HF hospitalization in 15 (18%) patients. The 5-year survival free of the combined endpoint of aortic or mitral valve interventions, HF hospitalization, or death was 19%. A multivariate predictor of clinical events was HF symptoms (hazard ratio [HR], 2.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30-4.14; p = 0.0045). Kaplan-Meier survival at 5 years was 61% without intervention and HF symptoms were not associated with mortality.

Conclusions

Among patients with both moderate AS and MS, left ventricular ejection fraction, stroke volume index, atrial fibrillation, and right ventricular systolic pressure were strong determinants of HF symptoms. HF symptoms were independently predictive of clinical events.

Impact of atrial fibrillation on outcomes in asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis: a propensity-matched analysis

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) portends poor prognosis in patients with aortic stenosis (AS).

Objectives

This study aimed to study the association of AF vs. sinus rhythm (SR) with outcomes in asymptomatic severe AS during routine clinical practice.

Methods

We identified 909 asymptomatic patients from 3,208 consecutive patients with aortic valve area ≤1.0 cm² and left ventricular ejection fraction ≥50% at a tertiary academic center. Patients were grouped by rhythm at the time of transthoracic echocardiogram [SR: 820/909 (90%) and AF: 89/909 (10%)]. Propensity-matched analyses (2 SR:1 AF) matching 174 SR to 89 AF patients by age, sex, and clinical comorbidities were used to compare outcomes.

Results

In the propensity-matched cohort, median age (82 ± 8 vs. 81 ± 9 years, p = 0.31), sex distribution (male 58% vs. 52%, p = 0.30), and Charlson comorbidity index (4.0 vs. 3.0, p = 0.26) were not different in AF vs. SR. Median follow-up duration was 2.6 (IQR: 1.0-4.4) years. The 1-year rate of aortic valve replacement (AVR) was not different (AF: 32% vs. SR: 37%, p = 0.31). All-cause mortality was higher in AF [hazard ratio (HR): 1.68 (1.13-2.50), p = 0.009]. Independent predictors of mortality were age [HR: 1.92 (1.40-2.62), p < 0.001], Charlson comorbidity index [1.09 (1.03-1.15), p = 0.002], aortic valve peak velocity [HR: 1.87 (1.20-2.94), p = 0.006], stroke volume index [HR: 0.75 (0.60-0.93), p = 0.01], moderate or more mitral regurgitation [HR: 2.97 (1.43-6.19), p = 0.004], right ventricular systolic dysfunction [HR: 2.39 (1.29-4.43), p = 0.006], and time-dependent AVR [HR: 0.36 (0.19-0.65), p = 0.0008]. There was no significant interaction of AVR and rhythm (p = 0.57).

Conclusions

Lower forward flow, right ventricular systolic dysfunction, and mitral regurgitation identified increased risk of subsequent mortality in asymptomatic patients with AF and AS. Additional studies of risk stratification of asymptomatic AS in AF vs. SR are needed.

Shifting from Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction to Strain Imaging in Aortic Stenosis

Adverse ventricular remodeling is an inflexion point of disease progression in aortic stenosis (AS) and a major determinant of prognosis. Intervention before irreversible myocardial damage is of paramount importance to sustain favorable post-operative outcomes. Current guidelines recommend a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)-based strategy to determine the threshold for intervention in AS. However, LVEF has several pitfalls: it denotes the left ventricular cavity volumetric changes and it is not suited to detecting subtle signs of myocardial damage. Strain has emerged as a contemporary imaging biomarker that describes intramyocardial contractile force, providing information on subclinical myocardial dysfunction due to fibrosis. A large body of evidence advocates its use to determine the switch from adaptive to maladaptive myocardial changes in AS, and to refine thresholds for intervention. Although mainly studied in echocardiography, studies exploring the role of strain in multi-detector row computed tomography and cardiac magnetic resonance are emerging. This review, therefore, summarizes contemporary evidence on the role of LVEF and strain imaging in AS prognosis, aiming to move from an LVEF-based to a strain-based approach for risk stratification and therapeutic decision-making in AS.

Impact of Moderate Aortic Stenosis in Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction

BACKGROUND

Afterload from moderate aortic stenosis (AS) may contribute to adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

OBJECTIVES

The authors evaluated clinical outcomes in patients with HFrEF and moderate AS relative to those without AS and with severe AS.

METHODS

Patients with HFrEF, defined by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <50% and no, moderate, or severe AS were retrospectively identified. The primary endpoint, defined as a composite of all-cause mortality and heart failure (HF) hospitalization, was compared across groups and within a propensity score-matched cohort.

RESULTS

We included 9,133 patients with HFrEF, of whom 374 and 362 had moderate and severe AS, respectively. Over a median follow-up time of 3.1 years, the primary outcome occurred in 62.7% of patients with moderate AS vs 45.9% with no AS (P < 0.0001); rates were similar with severe and moderate AS (62.0% vs 62.7%; P = 0.68). Patients with severe AS had a lower incidence of HF hospitalization (36.2% vs 43.6%; P < 0.05) and were more likely to undergo AVR within the follow-up period. Within a propensity score-matched cohort, moderate AS was associated with an increased risk of HF hospitalization and mortality (HR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.04-1.49; P = 0.01) and fewer days alive outside of the hospital (P < 0.0001). Aortic valve replacement (AVR) was associated with improved survival (HR: 0.60; CI: 0.36-0.99; P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with HFrEF, moderate AS is associated with increased rates of HF hospitalization and mortality. Further investigation is warranted to determine whether AVR in this population improves clinical outcomes.

Heart failure and excess mortality after aortic valve replacement in aortic stenosis

INTRODUCTION

In aortic stenosis (AS), the heart transitions from adaptive compensation to an AS cardiomyopathy and eventually leads to decompensation with heart failure. Better understanding of the underpinning pathophysiological mechanisms is required in order to inform strategies to prevent decompensation.

AREAS COVERED

In this review, we therefore aim to appraise the current pathophysiological understanding of adaptive and maladaptive processes in AS, appraise potential avenues of adjunctive therapy before or after AVR and highlight areas of further research in the management of heart failure post AVR.

EXPERT OPINION

Tailored strategies for the timing of intervention accounting for individual patient's response to the afterload insult are underway, and promise to guide better management in the future. Further clinical trials of adjunctive pharmacological and device therapy to either cardioprotect prior to intervention or promote reverse remodeling and recovery after intervention are needed to mitigate the risk of heart failure and excess mortality.

Atrial fibrillation in patients with severe aortic stenosis

BACKGROUND

There has been no previous report evaluating the long impact of atrial fibrillation (AF) on the clinical outcomes stratified by the initial management [conservative or aortic valve replacement (AVR)] strategies of severe aortic stenosis (AS).

METHODS

We analyzed 3815 patients with severe AS enrolled in the CURRENT AS registry. Patients with AF were defined as those having a history of AF when severe AS was found on the index echocardiography. The primary outcome measure was a composite of aortic valve-related death or hospitalization for heart failure.

RESULTS

The cumulative 5-year incidence of the primary outcome measure was significantly higher in patients with AF than in those without AF (44.2 % versus 33.2 %, HR 1.54, 95 % CI 1.35-1.76). After adjusting for confounders, the risk of AF relative to no AF remained significant (HR 1.34, 95 % CI 1.16-1.56). The magnitude of excess adjusted risk of AF for the primary outcome measure was greater in the initial AVR stratum (N = 1197, HR 1.95, 95 % CI 1.36-2.78) than in the conservative stratum (N = 2618, HR 1.26, 95 % CI 1.08-1.47) with a significant interaction (p = 0.04). In patients with AF, there was a significant excess adjusted risk of paroxysmal AF (N = 254) relative to chronic AF (N = 528) for the primary outcome measure (HR 1.34, 95 % CI 1.01-1.78).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with severe AS, concomitant AF was independently associated with worse clinical outcomes regardless of the initial management strategies. In those patients with conservative strategy, paroxysmal AF is stronger risk factor than chronic AF.

Peak systolic myocardial velocity in patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement for severe aortic stenosis: prognostic value and natural course

Myocardial systolic longitudinal function has been known to decrease in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). Preoperative peak systolic myocardial velocity at the septal mitral valve annulus (S'), measured using Doppler tissue imaging, was used as an indicator for myocardial systolic longitudinal function. The prognostic value and natural course of S' after surgical aortic valve replacement for severe AS have not been elucidated. This retrospective observational study included patients from January 2006 to December 2018. The patients were divided to 2 groups (pre-S'_HIGH vs. pre-S'_LOW) with a cut-off 5.4 cm/s of preoperative S' (pre-S') that was identified by restricted cubic spline curve. The primary outcome was postoperative long-term all-cause mortality. Nine hundred and five patients were analyzed. All-cause mortality rate at the median follow-up period of 5.2 years was 12% in pre-S'_LOW and 8% in pre-S'_HIGH. Multivariate analysis showed that pre-S'_LOW was associated with an increased all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 1.60; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-2.48; P = 0.032). Significantly different trajectories of postoperative S' (post-S') were found between two groups (P < 0.001 for difference): In pre-S'_LOW, post-S' increased within 6 months after surgery, and gradually decreased over time, whereas it slowly decreased up to 5 years after surgery and then reached a plateau in pre-S'_HIGH. The difference in pre-S' level maintained over time, and remained consistent in the adjusted analysis. Pre-S' < 5.4 cm/s was found to be associated with an increased long-term all-cause mortality. In addition, the trajectories for post-S' were different according to pre-S', which remained after adjustment.

An automatic segmentation method with self-attention mechanism on left ventricle in gated PET/CT myocardial perfusion imaging

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to propose an automatic segmentation method for left ventricular (LV) from 16 electrocardiogram (ECG) -gated ¹³N-NH₃ PET/CT myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) to improve the performance of LV function assessment.

METHODS

Ninety-six cases with confirmed or suspected obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) were enrolled in this research. The LV myocardial contours were delineated by physicians as ground truth. We developed an automatic segmentation method, which introduces the self-attention mechanism into 3D U-Net to capture global information of images so as to achieve fine segmentation of LV. Three cross-validation tests were performed on each gate (64 vs. 32 for training vs. validation). The effectiveness was validated by quantitative metrics (modified hausdorff distance, MHD; dice ratio, DR; 3D MHD) as well as cardiac functional parameters (end-systolic volume, ESV; end-diastolic volume, EDV; ejection fraction, EF). Furthermore, the feasibility of the proposed method was also evaluated by intra- and inter-observers with DR and 3D-MHD.

RESULTS

Compared with backbone network, the proposed approach improved the average DR from 0.905 ± 0.0193 to 0.9202 ± 0.0164, and decreased the average 3D MHD from 0.4611 ± 0.0349 to 0.4304 ± 0.0339. The average relative error of LV volume between proposed method and ground truth is 1.09±3.66%, and the correlation coefficient is 0.992 ± 0.007 (P < 0.001). The EDV, ESV, EF deduced from the proposed approach were highly correlated with ground truth (r ≥ 0.864, P < 0.001), and the correlation with commercial software is fair (r ≥ 0.871, P < 0.001). DR and 3D MHD of contours and myocardium from two observers are higher than 0.899 and less than 0.5194.

CONCLUSION

The proposed approach is highly feasible for automatic segmentation of the LV cavity and myocardium, with potential to benefit the precision of LV function assessment.

Early surgical intervention versus conservative management of asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Timing of intervention for patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS) remains controversial. To compare the outcomes of early aortic valve replacement (AVR) versus watchful waiting (WW) in patients with asymptomatic severe AS.

METHODS

We systematically searched PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases, in December 2021, for studies comparing early AVR with WW in the treatment of asymptomatic severe AS. Random-effects meta-analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Twelve studies were included in which two were randomised clinical trials. A total of 4130 patients were included, providing a 1092 pooled death events. Our meta-analysis showed a significantly lower all-cause mortality for the early AVR compared with WW group, although with a high amount of heterogeneity between studies in the magnitude of the effect (pooled OR 0.40; 95% CI 0.35 to 0.45, p<0.01; I²=61%). An early surgery strategy displayed a significantly lower cardiovascular mortality (pooled OR 0.33; 95% CI 0.19 to 0.56, p<0.01; I²=64%) and heart failure hospitalisation (pooled OR 0.19; 95% CI 0.10 to 0.39, p<0.01, I²=7%). However, both groups had similar rates of stroke (pooled OR 1.30; 95% CI 0.73 to 2.29, p=0.36, I²=0%) and myocardial infarction (pooled OR 0.49; 95% CI 0.19 to 1.27, p=0.14, I²= 0%).

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that for patients with asymptomatic severe AS an early surgical intervention compared with a conservative WW strategy was associated with a lower heart failure hospitalisation and a similar rate of stroke or myocardial infarction, although with significant risk of bias.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42021291144.

Managing Patients With Moderate Aortic Stenosis

Current guidelines recommend that clinical surveillance for patients with moderate aortic stenosis (AS) and aortic valve replacement (AVR) may be considered if there is an indication for coronary revascularization. Recent observational studies, however, have shown that moderate AS is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events and mortality. Whether the increased risk of adverse events is caused by associated comorbidities, or to the underlying moderate AS itself, is incompletely understood. Similarly, which patients with moderate AS need close follow-up or could potentially benefit from early AVR is also unknown. In this review, the authors provide a comprehensive overview of the current literature on moderate AS. They first provide an algorithm that helps to diagnose moderate AS correctly, especially when discordant grading is observed. Although the traditional focus of AS assessment has been on the valve, it is increasingly acknowledged that AS is not only a disease of the aortic valve but also of the ventricle. The authors therefore discuss how multimodality imaging can help to evaluate the left ventricular remodeling response and improve risk stratification in patients with moderate AS. Finally, they summarize current evidence on the management of moderate AS and highlight ongoing trials on AVR in moderate AS.

Transcatheter and surgical aortic valve replacement in patients with left ventricular dysfunction

BACKGROUND

Patients with severe aortic stenosis and left ventricular systolic dysfunction have a poor prognosis, and this may result in inferior survival also after aortic valve replacement. The outcomes of transcatheter and surgical aortic valve replacement were investigated in this comparative analysis.

METHODS

The retrospective nationwide FinnValve registry included data on patients who underwent transcatheter or surgical aortic valve replacement with a bioprosthesis for severe aortic stenosis. Propensity score matching was performed to adjust the outcomes for baseline covariates of patients with reduced (≤ 50%) left ventricular ejection fraction.

RESULTS

Within the unselected, consecutive 6463 patients included in the registry, the prevalence of reduced ejection fraction was 20.8% (876 patients) in the surgical cohort and 27.7% (452 patients) in the transcatheter cohort. Reduced left ventricular ejection fraction was associated with decreased survival (adjusted hazards ratio 1.215, 95%CI 1.067-1.385) after a mean follow-up of 3.6 years. Among 255 propensity score matched pairs, 30-day mortality was 3.1% after transcatheter and 7.8% after surgical intervention (p = 0.038). One-year and 4-year survival were 87.5% and 65.9% after transcatheter intervention and 83.9% and 69.6% after surgical intervention (restricted mean survival time ratio, 1.002, 95%CI 0.929-1.080, p = 0.964), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Reduced left ventricular ejection fraction was associated with increased morbidity and mortality after surgical and transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Thirty-day mortality was higher after surgery, but intermediate-term survival was comparable to transcatheter intervention. Trial registration The FinnValve registry ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03385915.

Aortic Stenosis: New Insights in Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

Aortic stenosis (AS) is one of the most common valvular heart diseases and the number of patients with AS is expected to increase globally as the older population is growing fast. Since the majority of patients are elderly, AS is no longer a simple valvular heart disease of left ventricular outflow obstruction but is accompanied by other cardiac and comorbid conditions. Because of the significant variations of the disease, identifying patients at high risk and even earlier detection of patients with AS before developing symptomatic severe AS is becoming increasingly important. With the proven of efficacy and safety of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in the severe AS population, there is a growing interest in applying TAVR in those with less than severe AS. A medical therapy to reduce or prevent the progression in AS is actively investigated by several randomized control trials. In this review, we will summarize the most recent findings in AS and discuss potential future management strategies of patients with AS.

Impact of Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction on Clinical Outcomes in Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease

BACKGROUND

The prognostic impact of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) disease has not been previously studied.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to determine the prognostic impact of LVEF in BAV patients according to the type of aortic valve dysfunction.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the data collected in 2,672 patients included in an international registry of patients with BAV. Patients were classified according to the type of aortic valve dysfunction: isolated aortic stenosis (AS) (n = 749), isolated aortic regurgitation (AR) (n = 554), mixed aortic valve disease (MAVD) (n = 190), or no significant aortic valve dysfunction (n = 1,179; excluded from this analysis). The study population was divided according to LVEF strata to investigate its impact on clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

The risk of all-cause mortality and the composite endpoint of aortic valve replacement or repair (AVR) and all-cause mortality increased when LVEF was <60% in the whole cohort as well as in the AS and AR groups, and when LVEF was <55% in MAVD group. In multivariable analysis, LVEF strata were significantly associated with increased rate of mortality (LVEF 50%-59%: HR: 1.83 [95% CI: 1.09-3.07]; P = 0.022; LVEF 30%-49%: HR: 1.97 [95% CI: 1.13-3.41]; P = 0.016; LVEF <30%: HR: 4.20 [95% CI: 2.01-8.75]; P < 0.001; vs LVEF 60%-70%, reference group).

CONCLUSIONS

In BAV patients, the risk of adverse clinical outcomes increases significantly when the LVEF is <60%. These findings suggest that LVEF cutoff values proposed in the guidelines to indicate intervention should be raised from 50% to 60% in AS or AR and 55% in MAVD.

Feasibility of Coronary CT Angiography-derived Left Ventricular Long-Axis Shortening as an Early Marker of Ventricular Dysfunction in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Purpose

To evaluate the value of using left ventricular (LV) long-axis shortening (LAS) derived from coronary CT angiography (CCTA) to predict mortality in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Materials and Methods

Patients with severe AS who underwent CCTA for preprocedural TAVR planning between September 2014 and December 2019 were included in this retrospective study. CCTA covered the whole cardiac cycle in 10% increments. Image series reconstructed at end systole and end diastole were used to measure LV-LAS. All-cause mortality within 24 months of follow-up after TAVR was recorded. Cox regression analysis was performed, and hazard ratios (HRs) are presented with 95% CIs. The C index was used to evaluate model performance, and the likelihood ratio χ² test was performed to compare nested models.

Results

The study included 175 patients (median age, 79 years [IQR, 73-85 years]; 92 men). The mortality rate was 22% (38 of 175). When adjusting for predictive clinical confounders, it was found that LV-LAS could be used independently to predict mortality (adjusted HR, 2.83 [95% CI: 1.13, 7.07]; P = .03). In another model using the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Predicted Risk of Mortality (STS-PROM), LV-LAS remained significant (adjusted HR, 3.38 [95 CI: 1.48, 7.72]; P = .004), and its use improved the predictive value of the STS-PROM, increasing the STS-PROM C index from 0.64 to 0.71 (χ² = 29.9 vs 19.7, P = .001). In a subanalysis of patients with a normal LV ejection fraction (LVEF), the significance of LV-LAS persisted (adjusted HR, 3.98 [95 CI: 1.56, 10.17]; P = .004).

Conclusion

LV-LAS can be used independently to predict mortality in patients undergoing TAVR, including those with a normal LVEF.Keywords: CT Angiography, Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation/Replacement (TAVI/TAVR), Cardiac, Outcomes Analysis, Cardiomyopathies, Left Ventricle, Aortic Valve Supplemental material is available for this article. © RSNA, 2022See also the commentary by Everett and Leipsic in this issue.

Clinical outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement stratified by left ventricular ejection fraction: A single centre pilot study

Introduction

To define baseline echocardiographic, electrocardiographic (ECG) and computed tomographic (CT) findings of patients with heart failure undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and analyze their overall procedural outcomes.

Methods

Between 2018 and 2021, patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) who performed transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in Sabah Al Ahmad Cardiac Centre, Al Amiri Hospital were identified. A retrospective review of patients' parameters including pre-, intra-, and post-procedural data was conducted. Patients were grouped in 2 subgroups according to their EF: EF <40% (HFrEF) and EF ≥ 40%. The data included patients’ baseline characteristics, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic details along with pre-procedural CT assessment of aortic valve dimensions. Primary outcomes including post-operative disturbances, pacemaker implantation and in-hospital mortality following TAVR were additionally analyzed.

Results

A total of 61 patients with severe AS underwent TAVR. The mean age was 73.5 ± 9, and 21 (34%) of the patients were males. The mean ejection fraction (EF) was 55.5 ± 9.7%. Of 61 patients, 12 (20%) were identified as heart failure with reduced EF (<40%). These patients were younger, more often males, and were more likely to have coronary artery disease (75% versus 53.1%). Left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction was documented in 75% and 58.3% of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) respectively. Post TAVR conduction disturbances, with the commonest being LBBB was observed in 41.7%. Permanent pacemaker was implanted in 3 of patients with HFrEF (25%). There were no significant differences between the two groups with regards to in hospital mortality (p = 0.618).

Conclusion

Severe AS with EF <40% constitute a remarkable proportion of patients undergoing TAVR. Preliminary results of post-operative conduction disturbances and in hospital mortality in HFrEF patients were concluded to not differ from patients with LVEF ≥40%.

•

This is the first reported outcome study of TAVR in patients with heart failure in Kuwait.

•

Conduction disturbances induced by TAVR was observed in almost half of the patients.

•

Systolic dysfunction was not a predictor of in hospital complications or mortality outcomes.

Artificial Intelligence Enabled Fully Automated CMR Function Quantification for Optimized Risk Stratification in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Background

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging is considered the reference standard for assessing cardiac morphology and function and has demonstrated prognostic utility in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Novel fully automated analyses may facilitate data analyses but have not yet been compared against conventional manual data acquisition in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS).

Methods

Fully automated and manual biventricular assessments were performed in 139 AS patients scheduled for TAVR using commercially available software (suiteHEART®, Neosoft; QMass®, Medis Medical Imaging Systems). Volumetric assessment included left ventricular (LV) mass, LV/right ventricular (RV) end-diastolic/end-systolic volume, LV/RV stroke volume, and LV/RV ejection fraction (EF). Results of fully automated and manual analyses were compared. Regression analyses and receiver operator characteristics including area under the curve (AUC) calculation for prediction of the primary study endpoint cardiovascular (CV) death were performed.

Results

Fully automated and manual assessment of LVEF revealed similar prediction of CV mortality in univariable (manual: hazard ratio (HR) 0.970 (95% CI 0.943-0.997) p=0.032; automated: HR 0.967 (95% CI 0.939-0.995) p=0.022) and multivariable analyses (model 1: (including significant univariable parameters) manual: HR 0.968 (95% CI 0.938-0.999) p=0.043; automated: HR 0.963 [95% CI 0.933-0.995] p=0.024; model 2: (including CV risk factors) manual: HR 0.962 (95% CI 0.920-0.996) p=0.027; automated: HR 0.954 (95% CI 0.920-0.989) p=0.011). There were no differences in AUC (LVEF fully automated: 0.686; manual: 0.661; p=0.21). Absolute values of LV volumes differed significantly between automated and manual approaches (p < 0.001 for all). Fully automated quantification resulted in a time saving of 10 minutes per patient.

Conclusion

Fully automated biventricular volumetric assessments enable efficient and equal risk prediction compared to conventional manual approaches. In addition to significant time saving, this may provide the tools for optimized clinical management and stratification of patients with severe AS undergoing TAVR.

Correlation Between Cardiac Computed Tomography and Histopathology for Evaluating Patients with Aortic Valve Disease

BACKGROUND

The use of cardiac computed tomography (cardiac CT) and the quantification of the Agatston score for the evaluation of calcium of the aortic valve (AVC) has increased in different clinical contexts for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. This study aims to evaluate the correlation between cardiac CT and histopathology for the quantification of AVC.

METHODS

Ninety patients diagnosed with severe aortic valve dysfunction, of any etiology and regardless of the predominant type of injury, were included. Before the surgical event, a Cardiac CT were performed with Agatston Score measurement. The removed native valve was evaluated by a Pathologist, who provided a qualitative and quantitative evaluation of valve calcium. Calcium density was also analyzed by quantifying the area in pixel units obtained from photomicrographs. Follow-up was performed for four years after the aortic valve replacement.

RESULTS

Ninety patients were analyzed. The degenerative etiology predominated 63.3% (57 patients). The calcium load was different for the gender (p = 0.01) and type of valve injury (p = 0.0013). There was a positive correlation between the Agatston score, and the percentage of calcium reported by the pathologist in a conventional qualitative way (rs = 0.75, p < 0.001) and between the AVC and the Cote et al. score (rs = 0.77, p < 0.001). There was no difference in survival after aortic valve replacement concerning valve calcium load. Left ventricular dysfunction showed a significant difference in survival (p = 0.003, Log-rank).

CONCLUSION

There is a moderately high correlation between the Agatston score quantified by Cardiac CT and the histopathological evaluation. The severity of the calcification did not prove to be a predictor of death in the postsurgical follow-up.

Moderate aortic stenosis: importance of symptoms and left ventricular ejection fraction

AIMS

The aim of this study is to investigate the independent determinants of survival in patients with moderate aortic stenosis (AS), stratified by severity of symptoms and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Patients with a first diagnosis of moderate AS (aortic valve area >1.0 and ≤1.5 cm2) were identified. Patients were stratified by New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class (NYHA I, NYHA II, or NYHA III-IV) and LVEF (LVEF ≥60%, LVEF 50-59%, or LVEF <50%) at the time of moderate AS diagnosis. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality, while the secondary endpoint included all-cause mortality and aortic valve replacement. Of 1961 patients with moderate AS (mean age 73 ± 10 years, 51% men), 1108 (57%) patients were in NYHA class I, while 527 (27%) and 326 (17%) patients had symptoms of NYHA class II and III-IV, respectively. Regarding LVEF, 1032 (53%) had LVEF ≥60%, 544 (28%) LVEF 50-59%, and 385 (20%) LVEF <50%. During a median follow-up of 50 (23-82) months, 868 (44%) patients died. On multivariable analysis, NYHA class II [hazard ratio (HR): 1.633; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.431-1.864; P < 0.001], NYHA class III-IV (HR: 2.084; 95% CI: 1.797-2.417; P < 0.001), LVEF 50-59% (HR: 1.194; 95% CI: 1.013-1.406; P = 0.034), and LVEF <50% (HR: 1.694; 95% CI: 1.417-2.026; P < 0.001) were independently associated with increased mortality.

CONCLUSION

Moderate AS is associated with poor long-term survival. Baseline symptom severity and LVEF are associated with worse outcomes in these patients. Patients with low-normal LVEF (<60%) and mild symptoms (NYHA II) already have an increased risk of adverse events.

Prevalence and outcomes of concomitant cardiac amyloidosis and aortic stenosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is an increasingly recognised condition in patients with aortic stenosis (AS). However, there is large variation in the reported prevalence figures, due to differences in populations and diagnostic methods. We aimed to investigate the prevalence, risk factors and outcomes of concomitant CA and AS.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature searched on Medline, EMBASE, Scopus and CENTRAL. We analysed the prevalence of CA in AS grouped according to diagnostic techniques, and the risk factors and outcomes of concomitant CA and AS was analysed in AS patients referred for surgical or transcatheter aortic valve replacement (AVR).

RESULTS

A total of 21 studies were included, involving 4,243 patients. The pooled prevalence of CA in patients with AS was 14.4%, with substantial heterogeneity. The pooled prevalence of AS in CA was 8.7%, with substantial heterogeneity. Patients with both AS and CA had higher all-cause mortality than those with AS or CA alone. In AS patients requiring AVR, CA was associated with increasing age, male sex, higher NT-proBNP levels, increased interventricular septal end diastole thickness and lower left ventricular ejection fraction. Concomitant AS and CA was associated with increased all-cause mortality and pacemaker implantation post-procedure. Study limitations included the heterogeneity of results and the fair to good quality of studies published.

CONCLUSION

Overall, a substantial proportion of patients with AS may have CA, and they have poorer prognosis. A high degree of clinical suspicion is needed to identify "red flags" and perform appropriate diagnostic imaging.

First phase ejection fraction in aortic stenosis: A useful new measure of early left ventricular systolic dysfunction

In aortic stenosis (AS), a left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) <50% or symptoms are class I indications for aortic valve intervention. However, an EF <50% may be too conservative since subendocardial fibrosis may already have developed. An earlier marker of LV systolic dysfunction is therefore needed and first phase EF (EF1) is a promising new candidate. It is the EF measured over early systole to the point of maximum transaortic blood flow. It may be low in the presence of preserved total LV EF since the heart may compensate by recruiting myosin motors in later systole. The EF1 is inversely related to the grade of AS and directly related to markers of subendocardial fibrosis like late gadolinium enhancement on cardiac magnetic resonance scanning. A reduced EF1 (<25%) predicts adverse clinical events better that total EF and global longitudinal strain. We suggest that it is worth exploring as an indication for surgery in patients with asymptomatic severe AS.

Timing of Intervention in Asymptomatic Patients with Aortic Stenosis

Aortic stenosis is a very common disease. Current guidelines recommend intervention mainly in symptomatic patients; aortic valve replacement can be considered in asymptomatic patients under specific conditions, but the evidence supporting these indications is poor. Continuous advances in both surgical and percutaneous techniques have substantially decreased rates of perioperative complications and mortality; with this in mind, many authors suggest that earlier intervention in patients with severe aortic stenosis, when they are still asymptomatic, may be indicated. This paper summarises what is known about the natural history of severe aortic stenosis and the scientific evidence available about the optimal timing for aortic valve replacement.

Value of non-apical echocardiographic views in the up-grading of patients with aortic stenosis

Purpose. Echocardiography assessment from apical five-chamber view (A5CV) is the standard technique for aortic stenosis (AS) grading. Data on non-apical views, such as right parasternal (RPV), subcostal (SCV) and suprasternal notch (SSNV), is scarce and constitutes the aim of our study. Methods. We designed an observational study that included patients with AS recruited prospectively in whom the stenosis was graded by echocardiography from A5CV and non-apical view. The value of non-apical views in up-grading the stenosis severity (primary objective), the prognostic relevance of such reclassification and the feasibility and reproducibility of non-apical views assessment (secondary objectives) was evaluated. Results. Feasibility of AS appraisal from RPV, SCV and SSNV was 78%, 81% and 56%, respectively (SCV vs SSNV, p = .009). AS were up-graded from non-apical views according to peak gradient, mean gradient, area and indexed area by 24%, 17%, 24% and 22%, respectively (p < .0001). Non-apical views reclassified from non-severe to severe AS, from low gradient severe to high gradient severe AS and from non-critical to critical AS 19%, 23% and 3% of cases (p < .0001). The 4-years hard cardiac events rate was 41% in patients with non-severe AS, 67% in patients with severe AS from non-apical views, 68% in patients with severe AS from A5CV and 80% in patients with severe AS from A5CV and non-apical views (p < .001). Reproducibility of AS evaluation from non-apical views was fair to excellent (intraclass correlation coefficients: SSNV = 0.44, RPV = 0.61, SCV = 0.92). Conclusion. Assessment of AS from non-apical views is feasible, reproducible and valuable over A5CV; its use is encouraged.

Impact of New York Heart Association functional class on outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation

BACKGROUND

In the current guidelines, indications for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) are expanded to include several subgroups of asymptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS), and there is a paucity of data on the prognostic impact of New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class in patients with severe AS undergoing TAVI.

METHODS

Among 2588 patients enrolled in the OCEAN-TAVI registry, patients were divided into 4 groups according to baseline NYHA class (class I in 95 patients, class II in 1172 patients, class III in 1126 patients, and class IV in 195 patients).

RESULTS

Median follow-up was 729 days. The cumulative 2-year incidence of all-cause death was significantly higher in patients with NYHA class IV and III than in those with NYHA class II and I. (30.0%, 21.3%, 13.4%, and 11.2%, respectively, P < 0.001). After adjusting confounders, NYHA class IV and III, but not NYHA class II were independently associated with higher mortality compared with NYHA class I (reference) (adjusted HR: 3.43, 95%CI: 1.83-7.15, P < 0.001; adjusted HR: 2.07, 95%CI: 1.15-4.19, P = 0.013; and adjusted HR: 1.50, 95%CI: 0.83-3.04, P = 0.19, respectively). With increasing NYHA class, there was an incremental increase of heart failure hospitalization in the effect size relative to the reference (NYHA class I).

CONCLUSIONS

The long-term outcomes of patients with NYHA class I were better than those with NYHA class IV or III in some selected patients undergoing TAVI.

Timing of Intervention in Asymptomatic Aortic Stenosis

The decision to perform an intervention for asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS) requires careful weighing of the risks of early intervention against those of watchful observation, and the optimal timing of intervention remains controversial. With improvements in surgical and postoperative care, long-term survival after surgical aortic valve (AV) replacement (AVR) is excellent in low-risk patients, and the emergence of transcatheter AVR may change the thresholds for early preemptive intervention, although a durability issue has to be resolved. A watchful observation strategy also has a risk of sudden death, irreversible myocardial damage, and increase in operative risk while waiting for symptoms to develop. We have been waiting for a prospective randomized trial to solve the intense debate between early AVR and watchful observation, and the RECOVERY (Randomized Comparison of Early Surgery versus Conventional Treatment in Very Severe Aortic Stenosis) trial provides the evidence to support early AVR for asymptomatic severe AS. Risk assessment with severity of AS and staging classification may help to facilitate the identification of patients who may benefit from early intervention. Based on the results of the RECOVERY trial, early surgical AVR is reasonable for asymptomatic patients with very severe AS (aortic jet velocity ≥4.5 m/s) and low surgical risk. Further evidence is required to extend the indications of surgical AVR and to consider transcatheter AVR in asymptomatic patients with severe AS.

Refined Staging Classification of Cardiac Damage Associated with Aortic Stenosis and Outcomes after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

AIMS

A new staging classification of aortic stenosis (AS) characterizing the extent of cardiac damage was established and validated in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). We aimed to validate an updated classification system in patients undergoing TAVI.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In a prospective TAVI registry, AS patients were categorized into the following stages: no cardiac damage (Stage 0), left ventricular damage (Stage 1), left atrial or mitral valve damage (Stage 2), pulmonary vasculature or tricuspid valve damage (Stage 3), or right ventricular (RV) damage or low-flow state (Stage 4). Stage 3 was sub-divided into Stage 3a (≤moderate pulmonary hypertension) and Stage 3b (severe pulmonary hypertension). Stage 4 was sub-divided into Stage 4a (low-flow without RV dysfunction), Stage 4b (RV dysfunction without low-flow), and Stage 4c (RV dysfunction with low-flow). The primary endpoint was all-cause death at 1 year. Among 1,156 eligible patients, 14 were classified as Stage 0, 38 as Stage 1, 105 as Stage 2, 278 as Stage 3, and 721 as Stage 4. There was a stepwise increase in mortality according to advancing stages of cardiac damage: 3.9% (Stage 0-1), 9.6% (Stage 2), 14.1% (Stage 3), and 17.4% (Stage 4) (p = 0.002). After multivariable adjustment, only Stage 3b, Stage 4b, and Stage 4c conferred a significantly increased risk of mortality compared to Stage 0-1.

CONCLUSION

More than one third of patients had advanced cardiac damage (severe pulmonary hypertension or RV dysfunction) before TAVI, associating with a 5- to 7-fold increased risk of mortality at 1 year.

Short-term adverse remodeling progression in asymptomatic aortic stenosis

OBJECTIVES

Aortic stenosis (AS) is characterised by a long and variable asymptomatic course. Our objective was to use cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess progression of adverse remodeling in asymptomatic AS.

METHODS

Participants from the PRIMID-AS study, a prospective, multi-centre observational study of asymptomatic patients with moderate to severe AS, who remained asymptomatic at 12 months, were invited to undergo a repeat cardiac MRI.

RESULTS

Forty-three participants with moderate-severe AS (mean age 64.4 ± 14.8 years, 83.4% male, aortic valve area index 0.54 ± 0.15 cm2/m2) were included. There was small but significant increase in indexed left ventricular (LV) (90.7 ± 22.0 to 94.5 ± 23.1 ml/m2, p = 0.007) and left atrial volumes (52.9 ± 11.3 to 58.6 ± 13.6 ml/m2, p < 0.001), with a decrease in systolic (LV ejection fraction 57.9 ± 4.6 to 55.6 ± 4.1%, p = 0.001) and diastolic (longitudinal diastolic strain rate 1.06 ± 0.2 to 0.99 ± 0.2 1/s, p = 0.026) function, but no overall change in LV mass or mass/volume. Late gadolinium enhancement increased (2.02 to 4.26 g, p < 0.001) but markers of diffuse interstitial fibrosis did not change significantly (extracellular volume index 12.9 [11.4, 17.0] ml/m2 to 13.3 [11.1, 15.1] ml/m2, p = 0.689). There was also a significant increase in the levels of NT-proBNP (43.6 [13.45, 137.08] pg/ml to 53.4 [19.14, 202.20] pg/ml, p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

There is progression in cardiac remodeling with increasing scar burden even in asymptomatic AS. Given the lack of reversibility of LGE post-AVR and its association with long-term mortality post-AVR, this suggests the potential need for earlier intervention, before the accumulation of LGE, to improve the long-term outcomes in AS.

KEY POINTS

• Current guidelines recommend waiting until symptom onset before valve replacement in severe AS. • MRI showed clear progression in cardiac remodeling over 12 months in asymptomatic patients with AS, with near doubling in LGE. • This highlights the need for potentially earlier intervention or better risk stratification in AS.

Clinical factors associated with reduced global longitudinal strain in subjects with normal left ventricular ejection fraction

Characteristics of subjects with reduced GLS but no overt left ventricular dysfunction have been poorly characterized. We sought to find clinical factors associated with reduced GLS despite having normal LVEF. Subjects without documented cardiovascular disease who underwent measurement of GLS using 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography were retrospectively reviewed. All subjects had normal LVEF (≥ 55%). Because GLS is a negative value, we took the absolute value |x| for a simpler interpretation. Reduced GLS was defined as < 18%, and normal GLS was defined as ≥ 18%. Of 690 study subjects (mean age, 58 years and females, 51.2%), 208 (30.1%) had reduced GLS. Subjects with reduced GLS were more frequently male, and had more cardiovascular risk factors than those with normal GLS. In multivariable binary logistic regression analysis, male sex (odds ratio [OR] 3.02; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.02‒4.50; P < 0.001), hypertension (OR 1.52; 95% CI 1.02‒2.28; P = 0.043) and cigarette smoking (OR 1.80; 95% CI 1.14‒2.85; P = 0.012) were independently associated with reduced GLS. The greater the number of these 3 risk factors (male sex, hypertension and cigarette smoking), the higher the probability of having reduced GLS (P < 0.001). In subjects without overt cardiovascular disease who had normal LVEF, a relevant proportion (30.1%) of subjects had reduced GLS. Male sex, hypertension and cigarette smoking were independently associated with reduced GLS. GLS measurement should be emphasized for subjects with these clinical characteristics.

Percutaneous versus Surgical Intervention for Severe Aortic Valve Stenosis: A Systematic Review

Aortic stenosis is a disease that is increasing in prevalence and manifests as decreased cardiac output, which if left untreated can result in heart failure and ultimately death. It is primarily a disease of the elderly who often have multiple comorbidities. The advent of transcatheter aortic valve therapies has changed the way we treat these conditions. However, long-term results of these therapies remain uncertain. Recently, there has been an increasing number of studies examining the role of both surgical aortic valve replacement and transcatheter aortic valve replacement. We therefore performed a systematic review using Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, and the Cochrane Library. Two investigators searched papers published between January 1, 2007, and to date using the following terms: "aortic valve stenosis," "aortic valve operation," and "transcatheter aortic valve therapy." Both strategies in aortic stenosis treatment highlighted specific indications alongside the pitfalls such as structural valve degeneration and valve thrombosis which have a bearing on clinical outcomes. We propose some recommendations to help clinicians in the decision-making process as technological improvements make both surgical and transcatheter therapies viable options for patients with aortic stenosis. Finally, we assess the role of finite element analysis in patient selection for aortic valve replacement. THVT and AVR-S are both useful tools in the armamentarium against aortic stenosis. The decision between the two treatment strategies should be best guided by a strong robust evidence base, ideally with a long-term follow-up. This is best performed by the heart team with the patient as the center of the discussion.