GIGA-Cardiovascular

Follow-up of patients with asymptomatic aortic stenosis


Key Points

Question  What is the outcome of patients with asymptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) followed up in a specialized heart valve clinic?

Findings  In this study using data from the Heart Valve Clinic International Database including 1375 patients from 10 heart valve clinics, left ventricular ejection fraction less than 60% and peak aortic jet velocity greater than 5 m/s were independent factors associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with asymptomatic severe AS. The adverse association of these factors with survival remains significant following aortic valve replacement, suggesting the need for earlier intervention.

Meaning  Taking into consideration the low procedural risk associated with aortic valve replacement, the potential benefit of earlier intervention should be considered in high-risk patients with asymptomatic severe AS.

Abstract

Importance  The natural history and the management of patients with asymptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) have not been fully examined in the current era.

Objective  To determine the clinical outcomes of patients with asymptomatic AS using data from the Heart Valve Clinic International Database.

Design, Setting, and Participants  This registry was assembled by merging data from prospectively gathered institutional databases from 10 heart valve clinics in Europe, Canada, and the United States. Asymptomatic patients with an aortic valve area of 1.5 cm2 or less and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) greater than 50% at entry were considered for the present analysis. Data were collected from January 2001 to December 2014, and data were analyzed from January 2017 to July 2018.

Main Outcomes and Measures  Natural history, need for aortic valve replacement (AVR), and survival of asymptomatic patients with moderate or severe AS at entry followed up in a heart valve clinic. Indications for AVR were based on current guideline recommendations.

Results  Of the 1375 patients included in this analysis, 834 (60.7%) were male, and the mean (SD) age was 71 (13) years. A total of 861 patients (62.6%) had severe AS (aortic valve area less than 1.0 cm2). The mean (SD) overall survival during medical management (mean [SD] follow up, 27 [24] months) was 93% (1%), 86% (2%), and 75% (4%) at 2, 4, and 8 years, respectively. A total of 104 patients (7.6%) died under observation, including 57 patients (54.8%) from cardiovascular causes. The crude rate of sudden death was 0.65% over the duration of the study. A total of 542 patients (39.4%) underwent AVR, including 388 patients (71.6%) with severe AS at study entry and 154 (28.4%) with moderate AS at entry who progressed to severe AS. Those with severe AS at entry who underwent AVR did so at a mean (SD) of 14.4 (16.6) months and a median of 8.7 months. The mean (SD) 2-year and 4-year AVR-free survival rates for asymptomatic patients with severe AS at baseline were 54% (2%) and 32% (3%), respectively. In those undergoing AVR, the 30-day postprocedural mortality was 0.9%. In patients with severe AS at entry, peak aortic jet velocity (greater than 5 m/s) and LVEF (less than 60%) were associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality without AVR; these factors were also associated with postprocedural mortality in those patients with severe AS at baseline who underwent AVR (surgical AVR in 310 patients; transcatheter AVR in 78 patients).

Conclusions and Relevance  In patients with asymptomatic AS followed up in heart valve centers, the risk of sudden death is low, and rates of overall survival are similar to those reported from previous series. Patients with severe AS at baseline and peak aortic jet velocity of 5.0 m/s or greater or LVEF less than 60% have increased risks of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality even after AVR. The potential benefit of early intervention should be considered in these high-risk patients.

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Source

Patrizio Lancellotti, MD, PhD1,2; Julien Magne, PhD3; Raluca Dulgheru, MD1; Marie-Annick Clavel, DVM, PhD4; Erwan Donal, MD, PhD5; Mani A. Vannan, MBBS6; John Chambers, MD7; Raphael Rosenhek, MD8; Gilbert Habib, MD, PhD9,10; Guy Lloyd, MD11; Stefano Nistri, MD, PhD12; Madalina Garbi, MD13; Stella Marchetta, MD1; Khalil Fattouch, MD14,15; Augustin Coisne, MD, PhD16; David Montaigne, MD, PhD16; Thomas Modine, MD16; Laurent Davin, MD1; Olivier Gach, MD, PhD1; Marc Radermecker, MD, PhD1; Shizhen Liu, MD, PhD6; Linda Gillam, MD17; Andrea Rossi, MD18; Elena Galli, MD, PhD5; Federica Ilardi, MD1; Lionel Tastet, MSc4; Romain Capoulade, PhD4; Robert Zilberszac, MD, PhD8; E. Mara Vollema, MD19; Victoria Delgado, MD, PhD19; Bernard Cosyns, MD, PhD20; Stephane Lafitte, MD, PhD21; Anne Bernard, MD, PhD22,23; Luc A. Pierard, MD, PhD1; Jeroen J. Bax, MD, PhD19; Philippe Pibarot, DVM, PhD4; Cécile Oury, PhD1

JAMA Cardiol. Published online October 3, 2018. doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2018.3152

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