Long-term survival after MitraClip(®) therapy in patients with severe mitral regurgitation and severe congestive heart failure: A comparison among survivals predicted by heart failure models

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to investigate mortality following transcatheter mitral valve repair with the MitraClip System (MC) (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, CA, USA) in patients with mitral regurgitation and moderate-to-severe symptomatic heart failure in comparison to mortality predicted by the Seattle Heart Failure Model (SHFM) and the heart failure calculator of the meta-analysis global group in chronic heart failure (MAGGIC).

METHODS AND RESULTS

This retrospective study included 194 consecutive patients, who received a MC implantation between 2009 and 2013 at our institution. The observed mortality was compared with that predicted by the SHFM and the MAGGIC after 1 year: 24% observed, 18% by SHFM (p=0.185) and 20.9% by MAGGIC (p=0.542). At 2 years: 32% observed vs. 33% by SHFM (p=0.919). The subgroup of patients with end-stage heart failure and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) >10,000pg/ml (n=41) had significantly worse mortality after 1 year (49%) than predicted by SHFM (24%, p=0.034) and MAGGIC (24.8%, p=0.041).

CONCLUSION

In the overall patient cohort defined by 3+ to 4+ mitral valve regurgitation with New York Heart Association III and IV symptomatic heart failure, mortality following MC is consistent with that predicted by SHFM and MAGGIC for patients that are not at high risk. However, the subset of patients with severe heart failure defined by NTproBNP >10,000pg/ml had worse than predicted mortality and may not benefit from MC therapy, mainly due to a high 30-day mortality.

Economic burden of functional and organic mitral valve regurgitation

BACKGROUND

Very little is known about the costs of mitral regurgitation (MR) in Europe.

AIM

To evaluate the cost of MR from a French National Payer perspective, based on annual costs of surgical and non-surgical patients.

METHODS

A 12-month retrospective population-based analysis of patient demographics, outcomes and acute hospital and post-discharge resource utilizations, extracted from the 2009 French Medical Information System.

RESULTS

A total of 19,868 patients with MR were identified. Surgical group (n=4099): index hospitalization length of stay (LOS), 17±14.7 days; patients discharged to rehabilitation, 72% (LOS 23±16 days); 12-month rehospitalization rate, 25%; total cost per surgical patient, €24,871±13,940 (ranging from €21,970±11,787 for mitral valve repair [n=2567, 62.6%] to €29,732±15,796 for mitral valve replacement). Non-surgical group (n=15,769): number of hospitalizations over 12 months, 3.1±1.5 (LOS 23.5±20.4 days); admitted to rehabilitation, 24% (LOS 38.8±37.6 days); total cost per patient, €12,177±10,913 (varying between €9957±9080 and €13,538±11,692 for those without and with heart failure [HF], respectively). The total observed cost for 19,868 MR patients over 12 months was €292.8 million: surgical group, €100.8 million; medical group €192.0 million. Patients with MR and HF who were managed medically consumed 45% (€132.3 million) of the overall annual cost of MR.

CONCLUSION

The costs of care associated with MR are highly heterogeneous. There are significant differences in costs and resources used between the surgical and medical MR subgroups, with further differences depending on type of surgery and presence of HF.

Mitral Regurgitation - A Multidisciplinary Challenge

Mitral regurgitation is an increasing valvular disease that represents a difficult management challenge. Surgical treatment for degenerative mitral regurgitation is the standard of care treatment. Percutaneous therapies have emerged rapidly over the past years as an option for treatment of mitral regurgitation for selected, predominantly high-risk patients. Catheter-based devices mimic these surgical approaches with less procedural risk. Mitraclip® implantation mimics the surgical edge-to-edge leaflet repair technique, reducing the regurgitant area. We review the increasing evidence with the Mitraclip device reported to date.

Patient selection criteria and midterm clinical outcome for MitraClip therapy in patients with severe mitral regurgitation and severe congestive heart failure

AIMS

The implantation of a MitraClip (MC) is a new treatment modality for severe mitral regurgitation (MR) in patients whose condition is inoperable or who are at high conventional operative risk. This study reports the follow-up data of patients implanted with an MC in our heart centre to find selection criteria for this procedure in patients with severe congestive heart failure.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This study included 163 implantation procedures in 157 patients between March 2009 and November 2012. The severe MR was caused by functional or organic valve disease. The patients had no surgical treatment option or dramatically increased surgical operative risk due to reduced LVEF or concomitant diseases. Three (2%) implantation procedures were unsuccessful. Eleven (7%) patients died during the first 30 days after MC implantation, and 9 (6%) additional patients died during the first 6 months, both groups mainly due to severe, therapy-resistant end-stage heart failure. The 111 patients who were followed up showed significant improvement in NT-proBNP, LVEF, NYHA class, 6 min walk test, and quality of life. Ten (6%) patients needed conventional heart surgery despite high operative risk due to persistent symptomatic MR after MC implantation.

CONCLUSION

The interventional implantation of an MC is a new treatment for severe MR with acceptable periprocedural risk and results in clinical improvement in the majority. Patients with end-stage heart failure and an NT-proBNP value >10 000 pg/mL have a high mortality despite MC implantation, and their treatment should be based on a very individualized decision. Based on this experience, a clinical algorithm for patient selection is proposed.

Heart failure highlights in 2011

Heart failure (HF) remains a major medical problem, and the European Journal of Heart Failure is dedicated to publishing research further investigating its pathophysiology and diagnosis in order to help clinicians alleviate symptoms and improve patient outcomes.( 1) This review reports on important studies in the field of HF published in 2011. All research areas are addressed, including experimental studies, biomarkers, clinical trials, arrhythmias, and new insights into the role of device therapy.