Distressed Communities Index in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in an Affluent County in New York.

BACKGROUND: The clinical impact of the distressed communities index (DCI), a composite measure of economic well-being based on the U.S. zip code, is becoming increasingly recognized. Ranging from 0 (prosperous) to 100 (distressed), DCI's association with cardiovascular outcomes remains unknown. We aimed to study the association of the DCI with presentation and outcomes in adults with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve intervention (TAVR) in an affluent county in New York. METHODS: The study population included 286 patients with severe symptomatic AS or degeneration of a bioprosthetic valve who underwent TAVR with a newer generation transcatheter heart valve (THV) from December 2015 to June 2018 at an academic tertiary medical center. DCI for each patient was derived from their primary residence zip code. Patients were classified into DCI deciles and then categorized into 4 groups. The primary and secondary outcomes of interest were 30-day, 1-year, and 3-year mortality, respectively. RESULTS: Among 286 patients studied, 26%, 28%, 28%, and 18% were categorized into DCI groups 1-4, respectively (DCI <10: n = 73; DCI 10-20: n = 81; DCI 20-30: n = 80; DCI >30: n = 52). Patients in group 4 were younger with worse kidney function compared to patients in groups 1 and 2. They also had smaller aortic annuli and were more likely to receive a smaller THV. No significant difference in hospital length of stay or distribution of in-hospital, 30-day, 1-year, and 3-year mortality was demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: While the DCI was associated with differences in the clinical and anatomic profile, it was not associated with differences in clinical outcomes in this prospective observational study of adults undergoing TAVR suggesting that access to care is the likely discriminator.

Impact of Severity of Chronic Kidney Disease on Management and Outcomes Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement With Newer-Generation Transcatheter Valves.

BACKGROUND: The association between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and outcomes following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in the setting of newer-generation transcatheter heart valves (THVs) is not well known. Accordingly, we sought to assess the impact of CKD severity on outcomes in adults undergoing TAVR with newer-generation THVs. METHODS: The study population included 298 consecutive patients who underwent TAVR with a newer-generation THV (Sapien 3 [Edwards Lifesciences] or CoreValve Evolut R or Evolut Pro [Medtronic]) from December 2015 to June 2018 at an academic tertiary medical center. Patients were classified into three groups: group I, defined as creatinine clearance (CrCl) ≥60 mL/ min (n = 133); group II, defined as CrCl ≥30 mL/min and <60 mL/min (n = 128); and group III, defined as CrCl <30 mL/min (n = 37). RESULTS: Median length of stay was longer in groups II and III (2.0 days in group I vs 3.0 days in group II vs 4.0 days in group III; P<.01). While rates of 30-day readmission were significantly higher in groups II and III compared with group I (14.5% in group I vs 26.6% in group II vs 37.1% in group III; P<.01), rates of in-hospital and 30-day mortality and disabling stroke were similar. In multivariable analysis, CKD was independently associated with higher 30-day readmission rates (group II: odds ratio, 2.10; 95% confidence interval 1.02-4.32; group III: odds ratio, 3.52; 95% confidence interval, 1.40-8.87; group I: referent). CONCLUSIONS: In this prospective study of adults undergoing TAVR with newer-generation THVs, moderate and severe CKD was associated with a nearly 2-fold and 3-fold higher risk of 30-day readmission, respectively.

Gender Disparities in Management and Outcomes Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation With Newer Generation Transcatheter Valves.

The impact of gender on management and early outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in the setting of newer generation transcatheter heart valves (THVs) is not well known. We evaluated gender-specific differences on clinical management and in-hospital outcomes in adults who underwent TAVI with newer generation THVs. The study population included 298 consecutive patients who underwent TAVI and received a newer generation THV (Sapien 3 [Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, California] or Corevalve Evolut R or Evolut Pro [Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minnesota]) from December 2015 to June 2018 at an academic tertiary medical center. Of the 298 patients, 154 (52%) were men and 144 (48%) were women. Compared with men, women were older, had lower serum creatinine, higher left ventricular ejection fraction, and lower rates of multiple co-morbidities, including previous coronary artery bypass graft surgery, previous myocardial infarction, and atrial fibrillation. Women were noted to have smaller aortic annular area and perimeter and underwent implantation of smaller THVs than men. At the time of discharge, women were more frequently prescribed a P2Y12 inhibitor (primarily clopidogrel) and less frequently prescribed oral anticoagulation (namely warfarin). Hospital length of stay and in-hospital rates of mortality, disabling stroke, and pacemaker were similar in men and women. In conclusion, in this observational prospective study of adults who underwent TAVI with newer generation THVs, while gender-related disparities in clinical presentation and procedural management were observed, no significant difference in clinical outcomes were noted in men and women. Further studies examining gender-related differences in procedural and postprocedural care after TAVI in the contemporary era are warranted to better understand and optimize clinical outcomes in both men and women.