ABSTRACT
Background Patients with degenerative aortic stenosis(AS) referred for transcatheter aortic valve implantation(TAVI) typically have advanced cardiac and vascular adverse remodeling and multiple comorbidities and,therefore, might not recover a normal functional capacity after valve replacement. We sought to investigate the prevalence, the predictors, and the prognostic impact of residual impairment of functional capacity after TAVI. Methods and results Out of 790 patients undergoing TAVI with impaired functional capacity (NYHA IIIV) at baseline, NYHA functional class improved in 592 (86.5%) andremained unchanged/worsened in 92 (13.5%) at follow-up[median (IQR): 419 (208807) days] after TAVI. Normal functional capacity (NYHA I) was recovered in 65.5%(n = 448) of patients, while the rest had variable degrees of residual impairment. On multivariable regression analysis,atrial fibrillation [odds ratio-OR, 2.08 (1.213.58), p = 0.008],low-flowlow-gradient AS [OR, 1.97 (1.093.57),p = 0.026], chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [OR, 1.92(1.193.12), p = 0.008], and lower hemoglobin at baseline[OR, 1.11 (1.011.21) for each g% decrement, p = 0.036]were independently associated with residual impairment offunctional capacity. All-cause and cardiac mortality weresignificantly higher in those with residual impairment of functional capacity than in those in NYHA I class [hazard ratioHR:2.37 (95% CI: 1.513.72), p/0.001 and 2.16 (95% CI:1.084.35), p = 0.030, respectively]. Even mild residual functional impairment (NYHA II) was associated with a higherall-cause [HR: 2.02 (95% CI: 1.103.72), p = 0.023] andcardiac [HR: 2.08 (95% CI: 1.423.07), p/0.001] mortality. Conclusion Residual impairment of functional capacity iscommon after TAVI and is independently associated with increased mortality. Predictors of residual impairment of functional status are predominantly patient-rather than procedure-related.