Asistencia ventricular de larga duración en España (2007-2020). I informe del registro REGALAD / Durable ventricular assist device in Spain (2007-2020). First report of the REGALAD registry

Introducción y objetivos Se presentan las características clínicas, los resultados y las complicaciones de todos los pacientes a los que se implantó un dispositivo de asistencia circulatoria mecánica de larga duración en España entre 2007 y 2020. Métodos Análisis a partir del Registro español de asistencia ventricular de larga duración (REGALAD) en el que participaron los centros españoles con programa de asistencia ventricular mecánica. Resultado En este periodo se implantaron 263 dispositivos de asistencia ventricular de larga duración en 22 hospitales. En 182 pacientes (69%) la asistencia fue ventricular izquierda de flujo continuo; en 79 (30%), de flujo pulsátil (58 izquierdas y 21 biventriculares), y en 2 (1%) se implantó un corazón artificial total. El objetivo de la asistencia fue el puente al trasplante en 78 pacientes (30%), puente a la candidatura en 110 (42%), puente a la recuperación en 3 (1%) y la terapia de destino en 72 (27%). La supervivencia total a 6, 12 y 24 meses fue del 79, el 74 y el 69% respectivamente, y la mejor se consiguió con las asistencias izquierdas de flujo continuo (el 84, el 80 y el 75%). Las principales complicaciones asociadas fueron: infecciones (el 37% de los pacientes), hemorragias (35%), neurológicas (29%) y disfunción de la asistencia (17%). Conclusiones Las asistencias ventriculares de larga duración han irrumpido en España como un tratamiento útil en la insuficiencia cardiaca avanzada. Como en otros registros internacionales, se tiende a utilizar dispositivos izquierdos intracorpóreos de flujo continuo, que se asocian con mejores resultados. Las complicaciones relacionadas siguen siendo frecuentes y graves (AU)

Introduction and objectives This report presents the clinical characteristics, outcomes and complications of all consecutive patients implanted with a long-term mechanical circulatory support device in Spain between 2007 and 2020. Methods Analysis of the Spanish Registry of durable ventricular assist devices (REGALAD) including data form Spanish centers with a mechanical circulatory support program. Results During the study period, 263 ventricular assist devices were implanted in 22 hospitals. The implanted device was an isolated continuous-flow left ventricular assist device in 182 patients (69%), a pulsatile-flow device (58 isolated left ventricular and 21 biventricular) in 79 (30%), and a total artificial heart in 2 patients (1%). The strategy of the implant was as bridge to heart transplant in 78 patients (30%), bridge to candidacy in 110 (42%), bridge to recovery in 3 (1%) and destination therapy in 72 patients (27%). Overall survival at 6, 12 and 24 months was 79%, 74% and 69%, respectively, and was better in continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (84%, 80%, and 75%). The main adverse events related to this therapy were infections (37% of patients), bleeding (35%), neurological (29%), and device malfunction (17%). Conclusions Durable ventricular assist devices have emerged in Spain in the last few years as a useful therapy for patients with advanced heart failure. As in other international registries, the current trend is to use continuous-flow intracorporeal left ventricular devices, which are associated with better results. Adverse events continue to be frequent and severe (AU)

Intermittent inotropic support with levosimendan in advanced heart failure as destination therapy: The LEVO-D registry.

AIM: Patients with advanced heart failure (AHF) who are not candidates to advanced therapies have poor prognosis. Some trials have shown that intermittent levosimendan can reduce HF hospitalizations in AHF in the short term. In this real-life registry, we describe the patterns of use, safety and factors related to the response to intermittent levosimendan infusions in AHF patients not candidates to advanced therapies. METHODS AND RESULTS: Multicentre retrospective study of patients diagnosed with advanced heart failure, not HT or LVAD candidates. Patients needed to be on the optimal medical therapy according to their treating physician. Patients with de novo heart failure or who underwent any procedure that could improve prognosis were not included in the registry. Four hundred three patients were included; 77.9% needed at least one admission the year before levosimendan was first administered because of heart failure. Death rate at 1 year was 26.8% and median survival was 24.7 [95% CI: 20.4-26.9] months, and 43.7% of patients fulfilled the criteria for being considered a responder lo levosimendan (no death, heart failure admission or unplanned HF visit at 1 year after first levosimendan administration). Compared with the year before there was a significant reduction in HF admissions (38.7% vs. 77.9%; P < 0.0001), unplanned HF visits (22.7% vs. 43.7%; P < 0.0001) or the combined event including deaths (56.3% vs. 81.4%; P < 0.0001) during the year after. We created a score that helps predicting the responder status at 1 year after levosimendan, resulting in a score summatory of five variables: TEER (+2), treatment with beta-blockers (+1.5), Haemoglobin >12 g/dL (+1.5), amiodarone use (-1.5) HF visit 1 year before levosimendan (-1.5) and heart rate >70 b.p.m. (-2). Patients with a score less than -1 had a very low probability of response (21.5% free of death or HF event at 1 year) meanwhile those with a score over 1.5 had the better chance of response (68.4% free of death or HF event at 1 year). LEVO-D score performed well in the ROC analysis. CONCLUSION: In this large real-life series of AHF patients treated with levosimendan as destination therapy, we show a significant decrease of heart failure events during the year after the first administration. The simple LEVO-D Score could be of help when deciding about futile therapy in this population.

Durable ventricular assist device in Spain (2007-2020). First report of the REGALAD registry.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: This report presents the clinical characteristics, outcomes and complications of all consecutive patients implanted with a long-term mechanical circulatory support device in Spain between 2007 and 2020. METHODS: Analysis of the Spanish Registry of durable ventricular assist devices (REGALAD) including data form Spanish centers with a mechanical circulatory support program. RESULTS: During the study period, 263 ventricular assist devices were implanted in 22 hospitals. The implanted device was an isolated continuous-flow left ventricular assist device in 182 patients (69%), a pulsatile-flow device (58 isolated left ventricular and 21 biventricular) in 79 (30%), and a total artificial heart in 2 patients (1%). The strategy of the implant was as bridge to heart transplant in 78 patients (30%), bridge to candidacy in 110 (42%), bridge to recovery in 3 (1%) and destination therapy in 72 patients (27%). Overall survival at 6, 12 and 24 months was 79%, 74% and 69%, respectively, and was better in continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (84%, 80%, and 75%). The main adverse events related to this therapy were infections (37% of patients), bleeding (35%), neurological (29%), and device malfunction (17%). CONCLUSIONS: Durable ventricular assist devices have emerged in Spain in the last few years as a useful therapy for patients with advanced heart failure. As in other international registries, the current trend is to use continuous-flow intracorporeal left ventricular devices, which are associated with better results. Adverse events continue to be frequent and severe.

Rationale and Protocol of the Multimodality Evaluation of Antibody-Mediated Injury in Heart Transplantation (LEONE-HT) Observational Cross-Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Heart transplant (HT) survival has barely improved in the last decades, which is unsatisfactory for many HT recipients. The development of anti-human leukocyte antigen (anti-HLA) antibodies in HT patients is associated with a cardiac allograft dysfunction. The mechanisms leading to this damage are unclear. The Multimodality Evaluation Of Antibody-Mediated Injury In Heart Transplantation (LEONE-HT) study aimed to thoroughly describe the damage inflicted on the myocardium by anti-HLA antibodies. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The LEONE-HT study is a cohort study with a cross-sectional approach in which HT patients with positive anti-HLA antibodies are compared with coetaneous HT patients with negative anti-HLA antibodies. All patients will undergo a state-of-the-art multimodal assessment, including imaging techniques, coronary anatomy and physiology evaluations and histological and immunological analyses. The individual and combined primary outcomes of structural graft injuries and longitudinal secondary outcomes are to be compared between the exposed and non-exposed groups with univariate and multivariable descriptive analyses. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The LEONE-HT study is carried out in accordance with the principles set out in the Declaration of Helsinki and the International Conference on Harmonization guidelines for good clinical practice and following national laws and regulations. The study design, objectives and participant centers have been communicated to clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05184426). The LEONE-HT study counts on the support of patient associations to disseminate the objectives and results of the research. This study was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and the Spanish Society of Cardiology.

Should Advanced Friedreich's Ataxia Be a Contraindication for Heart Transplantation? A Case Report of a Successful Procedure in a 58-Year-Old Patient.

The information on heart transplantation (HT) in patients with Friedreich's Ataxia (FA) is scarce, and the few published case reports are limited to young patients with mild neurological manifestations. We present the case of a 58-year-old patient with advanced FA (Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia [SARA] score 30/40), wheelchair-bound for the last 16 years and had urinary incontinence, dysarthria, and neurosensorial deafness. The patient was admitted for a refractory arrhythmic storm and had previous hypertrophic cardiomyopathy that evolved to dilated cardiomyopathy with severely reduced left ventricular ejection fraction and recurrent ventricular arrhythmias. A multidisciplinary team discussed the HT option. The patient was aware of the risks and benefits and considered worthy of the intervention, so he was listed for HT. After a successful surgical intervention, the patient had a long postoperative stay in ICU. He required a high dose of vasopressors, underwent hemofiltration for one month, suffered critical illness myopathy, had several respiratory infections and delayed tracheal extubation. Two and a half months after HT and almost five months at the hospital, the patient was successfully discharged. FA patients with severe heart conditions should be carefully evaluated by a multidisciplinary team to decide the candidacy for HT.

Does infection predispose to thrombosis during long-term ventricular assist device support?

BACKGROUND: Infections and thrombotic events remain life-threatening complications in patients with ventricular assist devices (VAD). METHODS: We describe the relationship between both events in our cohort of patients (n = 220) supported with the HeartWare VAD (HVAD). This is a retrospective analysis of patients undergoing HVAD implantation between July 2009 and March 2019 at the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. RESULTS: Infection was the most common adverse event in HVAD patients, with 125 patients (56.8%) experiencing ≥ one infection (n = 168, 0.33 event per person year (EPPY)), followed by pump thrombosis (PT) in 61 patients (27.7%, 0.16 EPPY). VAD-specific infections were the largest group of infections. Of the 125 patients who had an infection, 66 (53%) had a thrombotic event. Both thrombotic events and infections were related to the duration of support, though there was only limited evidence that infections predispose to thrombosis. Those with higher than median levels of C-reactive protein during the infection were more likely to have an ischaemic stroke (IS) (34.5% vs 16.7%, p = .03), though not PT or a combined thrombotic event (CTE: first PT or IS). However, in multivariate analysis, there was no significant effect of infection predisposing to CTE. CONCLUSIONS: Infection and thrombotic events are significant adverse events related to the duration of support in patients receiving HVADs. Infections do not clearly predispose to thrombotic events.

Continuous-flow left ventricular assist device: Current knowledge, complications, and future directions.

Long-term continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices have become a real alternative to heart transplantation in patients with advanced heart failure, achieving a promising 2-year event-free survival rate with new-generation devices. Currently, this technology has spread throughout the world, and any cardiologist or cardiac surgeon should be familiar with its fundamentals and its possible complications as well as the advances made in recent years. The aim of this review is to describe current knowledge, management of complications, and future directions of this novel heart-failure therapy.

Late arrhythmias in patients with new-onset persistent left bundle branch block after transcatheter aortic valve replacement using a balloon-expandable valve.

BACKGROUND: The arrhythmic burden after discharge in patients with new-onset left bundle branch block (LBBB) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with the balloon-expandable SAPIEN 3 (S3) valve remains largely unknown. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of late arrhythmias in patients with new-onset LBBB undergoing TAVR with the balloon-expandable S3 valve. METHODS: This was a multicenter, prospective study that included 104 consecutive TAVR patients with new-onset persistent LBBB following TAVR with the S3 valve. An implantable cardiac monitor (Reveal XT, Reveal LINQ) was implanted before discharge. The primary endpoint was the incidence of high-degree atrioventricular block or complete heart block (HAVB/CHB). RESULTS: A total of 40 patients (38.5%) had at least 1 significant arrhythmic event, leading to a treatment change in 17 (42.5%). Significant bradyarrhythmias occurred in 20 of 104 patients (19.2%) (34 HAVB/CHB episodes, 252 severe bradycardia episodes), with 10 of 20 patients (50%) exhibiting at least 1 episode of HAVB/CHB. Most HAVB/CHB episodes (60%) occurred within 4 weeks after discharge. Nine patients (8.7%) underwent permanent pacemaker implantation at 12 months based on the Reveal findings (6 HAVB/CHB, 3 severe bradycardia). CONCLUSION: S3 valve recipients with new-onset LBBB have a high arrhythmic burden, with more than one-third of patients exhibiting at least 1 significant arrhythmic episode within 12 months (HAVB/CHB in 10% of patients). About one-half of bradyarrhythmic events occurred within 4 weeks after discharge. These results should inform future strategies on the use of continuous electrocardiographic monitoring in TAVR S3 patients with new conduction disturbances following the procedure.

Arrhythmic burden in patients with new-onset persistent left bundle branch block after transcatheter aortic valve replacement: 2-year results of the MARE study.

AIMS: We determined the incidence and type of arrhythmias at 2-year follow-up in patients with new-onset persistent left bundle branch block (LBBB) following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). METHODS AND RESULTS: Multicentre prospective study including 103 consecutive patients with new-onset persistent LBBB post-TAVR (SAPIEN XT/3: 53; CoreValve/Evolut R: 50). An implantable cardiac monitor (Reveal XT, Reveal Linq) was implanted before hospital discharge and patients had continuous monitoring for up to 2 years. Arrhythmic events were adjudicated in a central core lab. 1836 new arrhythmic events (tachyarrhythmias: 1655 and bradyarrhythmias: 181) occurred at 2 years. Of these, 283 (15%) occurred beyond 1 year (tachyarrhythmias 212, bradyarrhythmias 71) in 33 (36%) patients, without differences between valve type. Most late (>1 year) arrhythmic events were asymptomatic (94%) and led to a treatment change in 17 (19%) patients. A total of 71 late bradyarrhythmias [high-degree atrioventricular block (HAVB): 3, severe bradycardia: 68] were detected in 17 (21%) patients. At 2 years, 18 (17%) patients had received a permanent pacemaker (PPM) or implantable cardiac-defibrillator. PPM implantation due to HAVB predominated in the early phase post-TAVR, with only 1 HAVB event requiring PPM implantation after 1 year. CONCLUSION: Patients with new-onset LBBB post-TAVR exhibited a very high burden of arrhythmic events within the 2 years post-procedure. While new tachyarrhythmic events were homogeneously distributed over time, the vast majority of new HAVB episodes leading to PPM implantation occurred early after the procedure. These results should help to guide the management of this challenging group of patients. (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02153307).

Late Electrocardiographic Changes in Patients With New-Onset Left Bundle Branch Block Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

This study sought to determine, in patients with new-onset persistent left bundle branch block (NOP-LBBB) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), the incidence and factors associated with (i) LBBB recovery and (ii) permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) at 1-year follow-up. This was a multicenter study including 153 patients (mean age: 81 ± 5 years, 56% of women) with NOP-LBBB post-TAVI (balloon-expandable valve in 112 patients). Delta PR (ΔPR) and delta QRS (ΔQRS) were defined as the difference in PR and QRS length between baseline and hospital discharge ECG, and the relative ΔPR and ΔQRS as absolute ΔPR and ΔQRS divided by baseline PR and QRS length, respectively. The patients had a clinical visit and 12-lead ECG at 1-year follow-up. LBBB recovery was observed in 50 patients (33%), and 14 patients (9%) had advanced conduction disturbances requiring PPI during the follow-up period. No clinical or ECG variables were associated with LBBB recovery, including prosthesis type (self- or balloon-expandable valve, p = 0.563), QRS width at baseline/discharge or absolute/relative ΔQRS (p >0.10 for all). The presence of atrial fibrillation at baseline (0.026), a longer PR interval at discharge (0.009), and a longer absolute and relative ΔPR (p = 0.002 and p = 0.004, respectively) were associated with an increased risk of PPI at 1-year follow-up. In conclusion, NOP-LBBB post-TAVI resolved in one-third of patients at 1-year follow-up, but no clinical or ECG variables were associated with LBBB recovery. Conversely, a nonsinus rhythm at baseline and a longer ΔPR were associated with an increased risk of PPI within the year after TAVI.

Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio Is Related to Thrombotic Complications and Survival in Continuous Flow Left Ventricular Assist Devices.

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have become an established treatment for advanced heart failure, although with long-term support these patients are potentially exposed to serious complications. Our purpose was to assess the role of the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in LVAD complications and to evaluate if higher values of NLR after 4-6 months on LVAD support (NLR 4_6m) are associated with worse prognosis. All consecutive patients who received a HeartWare LVAD (N = 188, age 50 ± 13 years), as bridge to transplant from December 2009 to January 2018 were included. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio was recorded pre-LVAD, post-LVAD, after 4-6 months on support and in case of a first adverse event to occur after the 4-6 months NLR was recorded. Median NLR values were pre-LVAD 4.26 (interquartile range [IQR], 3.1-6.9), at 1 day postoperative 11.6 (IQR, 8.3-16.6), and NLR 4_6m 4.4 (IQR, 3.0-6.4) (p < 0.001). Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio increased significantly when patients had an infection, stroke, or pump thrombosis, as compared with the NLR 4_6m (all p < 0.05). Patients with NLR 4_6m ≥ median had higher rates of stroke and mortality. Survival time was shorter among patients with NLR 4_6m ≥ 4.4 (log-rank test p = 0.006). Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio 4_6m was found to be predictive of increased mortality (area under the curve of 0.62, p = 0.007). After multivariate analysis, NLR 4_6m remained independently associated with increased mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-2.7; p = 0.037). Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio 4_6m values significantly increase in association with adverse events on LVAD support and are independently associated with mortality. This association suggests presence of inflammation adversely affects LVAD outcomes.

Arrhythmic Burden as Determined by Ambulatory Continuous Cardiac Monitoring in Patients With New-Onset Persistent Left Bundle Branch Block Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: The MARE Study.

OBJECTIVES: The authors sought to determine: 1) the global arrhythmic burden; 2) the rate of arrhythmias leading to a treatment change; and 3) the incidence of high-degree atrioventricular block (HAVB) at 12-month follow-up in patients with new-onset persistent left bundle branch block (LBBB) following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). BACKGROUND: Controversial data exist on the occurrence of significant arrhythmias in patients with LBBB post-TAVR. METHODS: This was a multicenter prospective study including 103 consecutive patients with new-onset persistent LBBB post-TAVR with the balloon-expandable SAPIEN XT/3 valve (n = 53), or the self-expanding CoreValve/Evolut R system (n = 50). An implantable cardiac monitor (Reveal XT, Reveal Linq) was implanted at 4 (3 to 6) days post-TAVR, and patients had continuous electrocardiogram monitoring for 12 months. All arrhythmic events were adjudicated in a central electrocardiography core lab. Primary endpoints were the incidence of arrhythmias leading to a treatment change, and the incidence of HAVB at 12-month follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 1,553 new arrhythmic events were detected in 44 patients (1,443 episodes of tachyarrhythmia in 26 patients [atrial fibrillation/flutter/atrial tachycardia: 1,427, ventricular tachycardia 16]; 110 episodes of bradyarrhythmia in 21 patients [HAVB 54, severe bradycardia 56]). All arrhythmic events were silent in 34 patients (77%), the arrhythmic event led to a treatment change in 19 patients (18%), and 11 patients (11%) required pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation (due to HAVB, severe bradycardia, or ventricular tachycardia episodes in 9, 1, and 1 patient, respectively). A total of 12 patients died at 1-year follow-up, 1 from sudden death. CONCLUSIONS: A high incidence of arrhythmic events was observed at 1-year follow-up in close to one-half of the patients with LBBB post-TAVR. Significant bradyarrhythmias occurred in one-fifth of the patients, and PPM was required in nearly one-half of them. These data support the use of a cardiac monitoring device for close follow-up and expediting the initiation of treatment in this challenging group of patients. (Ambulatory Electrocardiographic Monitoring for the Detection of High-Degree Atrio-Ventricular Block in Patients With New-onset PeRsistent LEft Bundle Branch Block After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation [MARE study]: NCT02153307).

La insuficiencia tricúspide, y no la insuficiencia mitral, determina la mortalidad en pacientes que presentan insuficiencia mitral no grave previa a TAVI / Tricuspid but not mitral regurgitation determines mortality after TAVI in patients with nonsevere mitral regurgitation

Introducción y objetivos: Muchos pacientes sometidos a implante percutáneo de válvula aórtica (TAVI) presentan insuficiencia mitral (IM) de grado moderado o menor. El impacto de la insuficiencia tricuspídea (IT) sigue sin resolverse. Se analiza el impacto de la IM moderada frente a leve-ausente y su evolución, y de la IT concomitante y su interacción con la IM. Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo multicéntrico de 813 pacientes tratados con TAVI entre 2007 y 2015 con IM ≤ 2 y abordaje transfemoral. Resultados: La edad media fue 81 ± 7 años y el Society of Thoracic Surgeons-score fue de 6,9 ± 5,1%. El 37,3% presentó IM moderada, con resultados comparables intrahospitalarios y de mortalidad a 6 meses frente a IM < 2 (11,9 frente a 9,4%; p = 0,257). Sin embargo, experimentaron más rehospitalizaciones y peor clase de la New York Heart Association (p = 0,008 y 0,001, respectivamente). Solo un 3,8% demostró un aumento en el grado de IM > 2 tras el TAVI. La presencia de IT moderada/grave se asoció con una mortalidad intrahospitalaria y de seguimiento del 13 y el 34,1%, independientemente del grado de IM. La IT moderada-grave fue predictor independiente de mortalidad (HR = 18,4; IC95%, 10,2-33,3; p < 0,001). Conclusiones: La presencia de IM moderada no supuso mayor mortalidad a corto-medio plazo tras el TAVI, pero asoció más rehospitalizaciones. La presencia de IT moderada/grave implicó mayor mortalidad. Esto sugiere que una evaluación minuciosa de los mecanismos subyacentes entre ambas insuficiencias valvulares debe realizarse para determinar la mejor estrategia para evitar la futilidad relacionada con TAVI

Introduction and objectives: Many patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) have concomitant mitral regurgitation (MR) of moderate grade or less. The impact of coexistent tricuspid regurgitation (TR) remains to be determined. We sought to analyze the impact of moderate vs none-to-mild MR and its trend after TAVI, as well as the impact of concomitant TR and its interaction with MR. Methods: Multicenter retrospective study of 813 TAVI patients treated through the transfemoral approach with MR ≤ 2 between 2007 and 2015. Results: The mean age was 81 ± 7 years and the mean Society of Thoracic Surgeons score was 6.9% ± 5.1%. Moderate MR was present in 37.3% of the patients, with similar in-hospital outcomes and 6-month follow-up mortality to those with MR < 2 (11.9% vs 9.4%; P = .257). However, they experienced more rehospitalizations and worse New York Heart Association class (P = .008 and .001, respectively). Few patients (3.8%) showed an increase in the MR grade to > 2 post-TAVI. The presence of concomitant moderate/severe TR was associated with in-hospital and follow-up mortality rates of 13% and 34.1%, respectively, regardless of MR grade. Moderate-severe TR was independently associated with mortality (HR, 18.4; 95%CI, 10.2-33.3; P < .001). Conclusions: The presence of moderate MR seemed not to impact short- and mid-term mortality post-TAVI, but was associated with more rehospitalizations. The presence of moderate or severe TR was associated with higher mortality. This suggests that a thorough evaluation of the mechanisms underlying concomitant mitral and tricuspid valve regurgitation should be performed to determine the best strategy for avoiding TAVI-related futility

Surgery for acute infective endocarditis: epidemiological data from a Spanish nationwide hospital-based registry.

OBJECTIVES: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious and eventually lethal disease with rising incidence in the past couple of decades. The aim of this study was to evaluate the contemporary epidemiological trends of surgical endocarditis patients, to analyse the clinical outcomes and to study their profile, associated prognostic factors and costs. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of all patients admitted for IE in Spanish hospitals and discharged between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2014. Data were extracted from the minimum basic data set of the National Surveillance System for Hospital Data in Spain provided by the Spanish Ministry of Health. Hospitalizations, comorbidities, outcomes and costs were analysed. RESULTS: In total, 34 399 patients with IE were included; 15.7% of patients received surgical treatment and 84.3% received medical treatment only. Surgical patients were mostly men (71.9%) and had a lower mean age (59.2 ± 16.08 years) than the medical treatment group (P < 0.0001). Mortality among surgical patients showed a decreasing trend between 1997 (32.0%) and 2014 (22.7%) and increased with age (47.6% in ≥85 years of age). Length of hospital stay and the percentage of patients with organ dysfunction were also higher in this group. The cost of the surgical treatment group was higher and increased since 1997 (15 259.22 euros), remaining stable from 2010 (40 700 euros) (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment in IE has trended upwards in Spain during the last 2 decades. Patients are getting older and more frequently experience organ dysfunction. Mortality ratio steadily declined without changes in the length of hospital stay.