Impact of low preprocedural transvalvular gradient on cardiovascular mortality following TAVI: an analysis from the FRANCE 2 registry.

AIMS: To assess the relationship between a low preprocedural (<40 mmHg) mean transaortic gradient (MTG) and cardiovascular mortality following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

METHODS AND

RESULTS

We studied highly symptomatic patients at high surgical risk who underwent TAVI, included in the FRANCE 2 multicentre registry. The primary endpoint was the incidence of any cardiovascular death in the year following the procedure. N=3,933 patients (age=82.8±7.2 years; EuroSCORE=21.8±14.1; left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF]=55.5±12.6%) were enrolled. Low MTG was present in 23.5% of the cases. The one-year cardiovascular mortality was 13.3%. Cardiovascular survival was significantly lower in low MTG patients compared to the others. Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that a low MTG independently predicted cardiovascular death (HR=1.53 [1.15-2.04], p=0.004). Other independent predictors of cardiovascular mortality included preprocedural angina (HR=3.12 [1.64-5.96], p=0.0006); NYHA functional Class III-IV (HR=1.57 [1.07-2.29], p=0.02); severe renal failure (HR=1.50 [1.01-2.24], p=0.04); EuroSCORE (HR=1.01 [1.00-1.02], p=0.01); transapical access (HR=1.59 [1.14-2.22], p=0.006); impaired LVEF (HR=1.66 [1.23-2.27], p=0.0007) and post-procedural moderate to severe periprosthetic regurgitation (HR=2.13 [1.56-2.92], p<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Presence of a low MTG prior to TAVI was associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular death up to one year following the procedure and could be used to identify patients at high risk for adverse cardiovascular outcomes following TAVI.