Sex differences in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement in Asia

Sex-Specific Disparities in Clinical Outcomes After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Among Different Racial Populations

Background

Sex-related disparities in clinical outcomes following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and the impact of sex on clinical outcomes after TAVR among different racial groups are undetermined.

Objectives

This study assessed whether sex-specific differences in baseline clinical and anatomical characteristics affect clinical outcomes after TAVR and investigated the impact of sex on clinical outcomes among different racial groups.

Methods

The TP-TAVR (Trans-Pacific TAVR) registry is a multinational cohort study of patients with severe aortic stenosis who underwent TAVR at 2 major centers in the United States and 1 major center in South Korea. The primary outcome was a composite of death from any cause, stroke, or rehospitalization after 1 year.

Results

The incidence of the primary composite outcome was not significantly different between sexes (27.9% in men vs 28% in women; adjusted HR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.79-1.20). This pattern was consistent in Asian (23.5% vs 23.3%; adjusted HR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.69-1.41) and non-Asian (30.8% vs 31.6%; adjusted HR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.72-1.24) cohorts, without a significant interaction between sex and racial group (P for interaction = 0.74). The adjusted risk for all-cause mortality was similar between sexes, regardless of racial group. However, the adjusted risk of stroke was significantly lower in male patients than in female patients, which was more prominent in the non-Asian cohort.

Conclusions

Despite significantly different baseline and procedural characteristics, there were no sex-specific differences in the adjusted 1-year rates of primary composite outcomes and all-cause mortality, regardless of different racial groups. (Transpacific TAVR registry [TP-TAVR]; NCT03826264).

Functional aortic valve area differs significantly between sexes: A phase-contrast cardiac MRI study in patients with severe aortic stenosis

Background

Aortic stenosis (AS) is one of the most prevalent valvular heart-diseases in Europe. Currently, diagnosis and classification are not sex-sensitive; however, due to a distinctly different natural history of AS, further investigations of sex-differences in AS-patients are needed. Thus, this study aimed to detect sex-differences in severe AS, especially concerning flow-patterns, via phase-contrast cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (PC-CMR).

Methods

Forty-four severe AS-patients (20 women, 45 % vs. 24 men, 55 %) with a median age of 72 years underwent transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), cardiac catheterization (CC) and CMR. Aortic valve area (AVA) and stroke volume (SV) were determined in all modalities, with CMR yielding geometrical AVA via cine-planimetry and functional AVA via PC-CMR, the latter being also used to examine flow-properties.

Results

Geometrical AVA showed no sex-differences (0.91 cm2, IQR: 0.61-1.14 vs. 0.94 cm2, IQR: 0.77-1.22, p = 0.322). However, functional AVA differed significantly between sexes in all three modalities (TTE: p = 0.044; CC/PC-CMR: p < 0.001). In men, no significant intermethodical biases in functional AVA-measurements between modalities were found (p = 0.278); yet, in women the particular measurements differed significantly (p < 0.001). Momentary flowrate showed sex-differences depending on momentary opening-degree (at 50 %, 75 % and 90 % of peak-AVA, all p < 0.001), with men showing higher flowrates with increasing opening-area. In women, flowrate did not differ between 75 % and 90 % of peak-AVA (p = 0.191).

Conclusions

In severe AS-patients, functional AVA showed marked sex-differences in all modalities, whilst geometrical AVA did not differ. Inter-methodical biases were negligible in men, but not in women. Lastly, significant sex-differences in flow-patterns fit in with the different pathogenesis of AS.

Female showed favorable left ventricle hypertrophy regression during post-TAVR follow-up

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a well-established procedure using a catheter-introduced valve prosthesis for patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). This retrospective study investigated sex-related differences in pre- and post-TAVR clinical and hemodynamic outcomes and analyzed data of the first 100 cases at Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital (KMUH) between December 2013 and December 2021. Baseline characteristics, procedural outcomes, mortality rates, and echocardiographic parameters were analyzed and compared between sexes. Among the 100 patients, male (46%) and female (54%) were of similar age (mean age, male 86.0 years vs. female 84.5 years) and of the same severity of AS (mean pressure gradient, male 47.5 mmHg vs. female 45.7 mmHg) at the time receiving the TAVR procedure. Women had smaller aortic valve areas calculated by continuity equation (0.8 ± 0.3 cm2 vs. 0.7 ± 0.2 cm2, p < 0.001). In addition, women had better left ventricle ejection fraction (59.6 ± 14.0% vs. men 54.7 ± 17.2%, p < 0.01). In the post-TAVR follow-up, regression of left ventricle mass and dimension was better in women than in men. None of the patient died within 30 days after the procedure, and women tended to have a more favorable survival than men (2-year mortality and overall mortality rate in 8.3 year, women 9.1% and 22.2% vs. men 22.2% and 34.8%; p = 0.6385 and 0.1277, respectively). In conclusion, the sex-based difference in post-TAVR regression of LV remodeling suggests a need for sex-based evaluation for patients with severe AS and their post TAVR follow-up.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement: Past, present, and future

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has emerged as a ground-breaking, minimally invasive alternative to traditional open-heart surgery, primarily designed for elderly patients initially considered unsuitable for surgical intervention due to severe aortic stenosis. As a result of successful large-scale trials, TAVR is now being routinely applied to a broader spectrum of patients. In deciding between TAVR and surgical aortic valve replacement, clinicians evaluate various factors, including patient suitability and anatomy through preprocedural imaging, which guides prosthetic valve sizing and access site selection. Patient surgical risk is a pivotal consideration, with a multidisciplinary team making the ultimate decision in the patient's best interest. Periprocedural imaging aids real-time visualization but is influenced by anaesthesia choices. A comprehensive postprocedural assessment is critical due to potential TAVR-related complications. Numerous trials have demonstrated that TAVR matches or surpasses surgery for patients with diverse surgical risk profiles, ranging from extreme to low risk. However, long-term follow-up data, particularly in low-risk cases, remains limited, and the applicability of published results to younger patients is uncertain. This review delves into key TAVR studies, pinpointing areas for potential improvement while delving into the future of this innovative procedure. Furthermore, it explores the expanding role of TAVR technology in addressing other heart valve replacement procedures.

Sex-Related Differences in Postoperative Outcomes After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Aortic stenosis is the most common valvular disease of the heart and is increasing in prevalence. Previous literature has found inferior outcomes for females undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement, while recent investigations have found equivalent or superior outcomes for females undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). PubMed and Medline were systematically searched for articles published from January 1, 2010, to April 30, 2021, for retrospective and prospective studies comparing outcomes between males and females undergoing TAVR. One thousand one hundred eighty titles and abstracts were screened, and 28 were included in this review. Risk of bias was assessed using questions derived from the ROBINS-I tool and previous literature. The data were compiled and analyzed using the RevMan 5.4 software. The results of this review confirm the previously published literature and have found rates of acute kidney injury ( P = 0.05) and postoperative pacemaker insertion ( P < 0.00001) favoring females and in-hospital mortality ( P = 0.04), stroke ( P < 0.00001), bleeding complications ( P < 0.00001), and vascular complications ( P < 0.00001) favoring males. The previously published literature has demonstrated consistently inferior outcomes for females undergoing heart valve surgery when compared to males. However, contemporary literature investigating sex differences after TAVR has found comparable outcomes for females. While the postoperative outcomes after surgical aortic valve replacement and TAVR are well established, the causal factors are still unidentified. Future studies utilizing matching based on preoperative characteristics and follow-up including collection of postoperative ventricular remodeling and prosthetic valve performance data will aid in elucidating the causal factors impacting outcomes for males and females after TAVR.

Predictors for all-cause mortality in men after transcatheter aortic valve replacement: A report from the LAPLACE-TAVI registry

Background

Information regarding the outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in men is limited. This study aimed to investigate short- to mid-term outcomes and prognostic predictors in this population.

Method and Results

The data of 519 men were analyzed from 1,693 consecutive patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis who underwent TAVR at six hospitals between April 2010 and July 2020. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality at 30 days after TAVR. The mean age and Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) score were 83.7 ± 5.9 years and 6.3 ± 4.7%, respectively. Overall, 23.5% of patients consumed alcohol with a frequency of > 1 drinks/week, and 12.1% consumed alcohol with a frequency of > 8 drinks/week, while 66.1% were former smokers and 4.2% were current smokers. Mortality at 30 days was 0.8%. During the median follow-up period of 448 days, the estimated survival rates at 1 year post-TAVR was 90.7 ± 1.4%. In multivariate analysis, the serum albumin level [hazard ratio (HR): 2.20, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.36-3.62, p = 0.001], atrial fibrillation (HR: 1.79, 95% CI: 1.13-2.82, p = 0.012), and STS score (HR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.06-1.67, p = 0.015) were independently associated with all-cause mortality following TAVR. Adjusted hazard ratios of current smoking, heavy drinking, and presence of cancer were 1.05 (95% CI: 0.36-2.98),1.37 (95% CI: 0.75-2.48), and 1.13 (95% CI: 0.75-2.48), respectively.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated that serum albumin levels, atrial fibrillation, and STS score were independently associated with all-cause mortality following TAVR in men.

Impact of prior coronary artery bypass grafting on periprocedural and short-term outcomes of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The effect of prior coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) on the outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remains incompletely characterized. In this meta-analysis, we investigated the impact of prior CABG on TAVR outcomes.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane databases from inception to 24 July 2022, using the search terms 'TAVR', 'CABG', 'peri-procedural complications', and 'mortality'. The major outcomes were peri-procedural complications, intraprocedural mortality, 30-day mortality, and 30-day cardiac mortality. We used random-effects models to aggregate data and to calculate pooled incidence and risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

Among 116 results from the systematic search, a total of 8 studies (5952 patients) were included. Compared to patients without previous CABG, patients with prior CABG undergoing TAVR were younger, predominantly male sex, had more comorbidities, higher rates of peri-procedural myocardial infarction (MI) [relative risk (RR) 1.93; 95% CI, 1.09-3.43; P  = 0.03], but lower rates of stroke (RR 0.71; 95% CI, 0.51-0.99; P  = 0.04), major vascular complications (RR 0.70; 95% CI, 0.51-0.95; P  = 0.02), and major bleeding (RR 0.70; 95% CI, 0.56-0.88; P  = 0.002). There were no significant differences between the two cohorts in rates of pacemaker implantation, cardiac tamponade, acute kidney injury, intra-procedural mortality, 30-day mortality, and 30-day cardiac mortality.

CONCLUSION

Among patients undergoing TAVR, a history of prior CABG was not associated with an increased risk of periprocedural complications (except for acute MI) or short-term mortality compared to those without CABG.

Sex Disparities in Hemodynamics and Outcomes in Patients Who Underwent Contemporary Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

Studies have reported worse outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in women receiving early generation transcatheter heart valves (THVs). They have smaller aortic annuli, which could result in higher gradients and more patient-prosthesis mismatch (PPM) after TAVI. We investigated the interactions between contemporary THV hemodynamics and outcomes in women who underwent TAVI. We conducted a retrospective, observational study of patients who underwent contemporary TAVI from 2015 to 2020. We compared baseline characteristics, in-hospital outcomes, and hemodynamics according to sex. We then dichotomized women according to aortic annular area (<430 or ≥430 mm²). Included were 869 patients who underwent TAVI with the SAPIEN 3 or CoreValve Evolut PRO/PRO+. Most patients with small annuli were female (82.5%). They had nonsignificantly higher mortality (30-day: 1.5% vs 0.6%, p = 0.313; 1-year: 4.1% vs 2.7%, p = 0.265). Those who received self-expanding THVs had lower gradients (8.0 mm Hg vs 13.8 mm Hg, p <0.001), resulting in less moderate PPM (21.2% vs 73.6%, p <0.001), similar severe PPM (19.5% vs 15.3%, p = 0.454), and higher rates of pacemaker implantation (14.4% vs 4.2%, p = 0.009). Women with small annuli who received a balloon-expandable THV had nonsignificantly higher mortality (30-day: 2.1% vs 0.8%, p = 0.631; 1-year: 6.3% vs 1.7%, p = 0.118). In conclusion, women who underwent contemporary TAVI had nonsignificantly higher mortality, which could be due to higher PPM rates. These findings were more pronounced in the subset of women with small annuli, in whom those who received self-expanding THVs demonstrated superior hemodynamics at the cost of increased rates of pacemaker implantation.

Sex Differences and Similarities in Valvular Heart Disease

As populations age worldwide, the burden of valvular heart disease has grown exponentially, and so has the proportion of affected women. Although rheumatic valve disease is declining in high-income countries, degenerative age-related causes are rising. Calcific aortic stenosis and degenerative mitral regurgitation affect a significant proportion of elderly women, particularly those with comorbidities. Women with valvular heart disease have been underrepresented in many of the landmark studies which form the basis for guideline recommendations. As a consequence, surgical referrals in women have often been delayed, with worse postoperative outcomes compared with men. As described in this review, a more recent effort to include women in research studies and clinical trials has increased our knowledge about sex-based differences in epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnostic criteria, treatment options, outcomes, and prognosis.

Paravalvular Leak: A Systemic Review

BACKGROUND

Paravalvular Leak (PVL) refers to the retrograde flow of blood in the space between an implanted cardiac valve and native tissue. These are unfortunately but luckily relatively uncommon complications of prosthetic valve replacement that, especially when moderate or severe, have important clinical consequences.

OBJECTIVE

Addressing PVL requires a multidisciplinary team to properly diagnose this process and choose the corrective option most likely to result in success.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was undertaken to formulate this narrative review.

RESULTS

This review highlights the complex nature of PVL and the promising contemporary treatments available.

CONCLUSION

Clinicians should be adept at recognizing PVL and characterizing it using multimodality imaging. Using the many available tools and a multidisciplinary approach should lead to favorable outcomes in patients with PVL.

Incidence, predictors, and clinical outcomes of permanent pacemaker insertion following transcatheter aortic valve implantation in an Arab population

PURPOSE

Conduction defects requiring permanent pacemaker insertion (PPI) are one of the most common complications after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The purpose of this study was to identify the incidence and predictors of this complication as well as to assess clinical outcomes of patients requiring PPI after TAVI in an Arab population.

METHODS

In this single-center, retrospective cohort analysis, all patients who underwent TAVI from 2010 to 2018 were reviewed; seventy-four independent variables were collected per patient, and multivariate analysis was performed to identify predictors. In-hospital outcomes were examined as well as 30-day and 1-year endpoints as defined by the Valve Academic Research Consortium-2.

RESULTS

There were 48 of 170 patients (28.2%) who required PPI within 30 days of TAVI. The median time from TAVI to PPI was 2 days (interquartile range: 0 to 5 days). Positive predictors of 30-day PPI were prior right bundle branch block (odds ratio [OR]: 4.10; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.37 to 0.79; p < 0.001), post-procedural development of new right bundle branch block (OR: 3.59; 95% CI: 1.07 to 12.03; p = 0.038), post-procedural development of new left bundle branch block (LBBB) (OR: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.21 to 2.84; p = 0.005), post-procedural prolongation of PR interval (OR: 1.02; 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.02; p < 0.001), and post-procedural QRS duration (OR: 1.01; 95% CI: 1.00 to 1.03; p = 0.02). However, post-procedural development of new LBBB no longer remained a significant predictor of PPI after excluding six patients with LBBB who underwent prophylactic PPI (p = 0.093). Negative predictors of 30-day PPI were the presence of diabetes (OR: 0.54; 95% CI: 037 to 0.79; p = 0.001), the use of prosthesis size 29 compared to 23 (OR: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.35 to 0.87; p = 0.010), and the use of prosthesis size 26 compared to 23 (OR: 0.31; 95% CI: 0.20 to 0.50; p < 0.001). PPI was associated with longer median hospital stay, but the result was borderline significant after multivariate adjustment (19 vs. 14 days; p = 0.052). There was no statistically significant difference in 30-day and 1-year clinical outcomes.

CONCLUSION

One-third of patients required PPI after TAVI. Several risk factors can identify patients at risk for PPI particularly pre-existing right bundle branch block. Further studies are needed to assess the association between PPI and negative clinical outcomes.