Clinical characteristics and outcomes of alcohol septal ablation in the era of transcatheter valve interventions.

BACKGROUND: The clinical efficacy and safety of alcohol septal ablation (ASA) for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) have been well-established; however, less is known about outcomes in patients undergoing preemptive ASA before transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR). AIMS: The goal of this study is to characterize the procedural characteristics and examine the clinical outcomes of ASA in both HCM and pre-TMVR. METHODS: This retrospective study compared procedural characteristics and outcomes in patient who underwent ASA for HCM and TMVR. RESULTS: In total, 137 patients were included, 86 in the HCM group and 51 in the TMVR group. The intraventricular septal thickness (mean 1.8 vs. 1.2 cm; p < 0.0001) and the pre-ASA LVOT gradient (73.6 vs. 33.8 mmHg; p ≤ 0.001) were higher in the HCM group vs the TMVR group. The mean volume of ethanol injected was higher (mean 2.4 vs. 1.7 cc; p < 0.0001). The average neo-left ventricular outflow tract area increased significantly after ASA in the patients undergoing TMVR (99.2 ± 83.37 mm2 vs. 196.5 ± 114.55 mm2; p = <0.0001). The HCM group had a greater reduction in the LVOT gradient after ASA vs the TMVR group (49.3 vs. 18 mmHg; p = 0.0040). The primary composite endpoint was higher in the TMVR group versus the HCM group (50.9% vs. 25.6%; p = 0.0404) and had a higher incidence of new permanent pacemaker (PPM) (25.5% vs. 18.6%; p = 0.3402). The TMVR group had a higher rate of all-cause mortality (9.8% vs. 1.2%; p = 0.0268). CONCLUSIONS: Preemptive ASA before TMVR was performed in patients with higher degree of clinical comorbidities, and correspondingly is associated with worse short-term clinical outcomes in comparison to ASA for HCM patients. ASA before TMVR enabled percutaneous mitral interventions in a small but significant minority of patients that would have otherwise been excluded. The degree of LVOT and neoLVOT area increase is significant and predictable.

Mortality and Heart Failure Admission After Mitral Valve Surgery for Mitral Regurgitation in Patients With Versus Without a History of Atrial Fibrillation: A Nationwide Study.

This study aimed to examine the associated rate of 3-year mortality and heart failure (HF) admission in patients who underwent mitral valve replacement/repair (MVR) for mitral regurgitation (MR) with and without a history of atrial fibrillation (AF). Using Danish nationwide registries, we categorized adult patients who underwent MVR for MR from 2000 to 2018 according to history of AF. The cumulative incidence of all-cause mortality and HF admission with a maximum of 3 years of follow-up were examined using Kaplan-Meier and the Aalen Johansen estimator, respectively. The adjusted rates were computed using the multivariable Cox regression analysis. We included 4,480 patients: 1,685 with a history of AF (37.6%) (median age 70 years, 66.1% men) and 2,795 (without AF 62.4%) (median age 64 years, 67.6% men). The 3-year mortality was 13.8% for patients with AF and 8.2% for patients without AF. The adjusted analysis yielded no statistically significant difference in the associated rate of mortality between the study groups (hazard ratio 1.16, 95% confidence interval 0.95 to 1.43, reference: no AF). The cumulative 3-year incidence of HF admission was 23.7% for patients with AF and 14.6% for patients without AF. The adjusted analysis yielded an associated higher rate of HF admission for patients with a history of AF (hazard ratio 1.19, 95% confidence interval 1.02 to 1.39). In conclusion, 37.6% of patients who underwent MVR for MR had a history of AF before surgery and we found no statistically significant difference in the mortality between the study groups but found a higher associated rate of HF admission in patients with a history of AF.

Association of pulmonary hypertension with the outcome in patients undergoing edge-to-edge mitral valve repair.

OBJECTIVES: The association of pulmonary hypertension (PH) with the outcome after mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (M-TEER) focusing on the new ESC/ERS guidelines definition for PH. BACKGROUND: PH is frequently found in patients with mitral regurgitation and is associated with lower survival rates. Recent studies were based on echocardiographic parameters, but results based on invasive haemodynamics differentiating distinct types of PH using the new definition for PH are missing. METHODS: 449 consecutive M-TEER-treated patients from December 2009 to February 2015 were included in this retrospective analysis. All patients were stratified by the distinct types of PH (no PH, precapillary PH, isolated postcapillary PH, combined post-PH and precapillary PH) according to the definitions of the ESC/ERS guidelines for the diagnosis of PH from 2015 (meanPA cut-off <25 mm Hg, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) cut-off ≤15 mm Hg, diastolic pulmonary gradient cut-off ≥7 mm Hg or pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) >3 WU) and 2022 (meanPA cut-off ≤20 mm Hg, PCWP cut-off ≤15 mm Hg, PVR cut-off ≥3 WU). RESULTS: Patients with any type of PH (2015: meanPA cut-off 25 mm Hg; 2022: meanPA cut-off >20 mm Hg) showed a higher risk of death after M-TEER compared with patients with no PH (2015: HR 1.61 (95% CI 1.25 to 2.07); p<0.001 and 2022: HR 2.09 (95% CI 1.54 to 2.83); p<0.001). Based on the new PH definition, each PH subgroup showed a lower survival after M-TEER compared with patients with no PH. Echocardiographic estimated systolic PAP showed a correlation with invasively measured mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) (r=0.29, p<0.001) and systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (r=0.34,p<0.001). Cox-regression analysis showed higher invasive diastolic, systolic and mean pulmonary pressures were associated with higher all-cause mortality (p<0.001). In addition, invasive measured higher right atrial pressure, lower pulmonary arterial compliance, higher PVR and higher wedge pressure were identified as predictors of all-cause mortality after M-TEER. CONCLUSIONS: The new PH definition discriminates PH groups and mortality better than the old definition. The lower threshold of mPAP of 20mmHg improved prognostication in this cohort of patients.

Implementing Formal Mitral Heart Team Improves Multidisciplinary Evaluation Rate and Survival of Patients With Severe Primary Mitral Regurgitation.

BACKGROUND: Multidisciplinary heart team (HT) evaluation is recommended for patients with severe primary mitral regurgitation to optimize treatment decisions. However, its impact on patient outcomes remains unknown. We evaluated the impact of implementing mitral HT on patient survival. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with new diagnoses of severe primary mitral regurgitation in a large healthcare network echocardiogram database between 2016 and 2020. We compared the incidence of multidisciplinary evaluation by structural cardiology and cardiac surgery services and 2-year survival before and after mitral HT implementation. The 1:1 propensity-score matching between pre- and post-mitral HT used Society of Thoracic Surgeons Predicted Risk of Mortality for mitral repair, age, sex, race, heart failure symptoms, inpatient setting, history of MI, and dementia as covariates. Logistic regression identified variables associated with the likelihood of undergoing multidisciplinary evaluation. Among 70 510 echocardiograms performed, 391 patients had severe primary mitral regurgitation (median age, 77 years; 46% women). Multidisciplinary evaluation increased from 29% to 89% (P<0.001), and intervention increased from 24% to 75% following mitral HT implementation (P<0.001). Among 180 propensity-score matched patients, mortality was lower post-mitral HT at 2 years (19% versus 32%, P=0.04). The multivariable model showed that mitral HT implementation and heart failure symptoms were associated with higher odds of undergoing multidisciplinary evaluation (OR [odds ratio], 18.7 and 2.72, respectively), whereas female sex and older age were associated with lower odds (OR, 0.39 and 0.93, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of mitral HT was associated with drastic improvement in multidisciplinary evaluation for patients with severe primary mitral regurgitation. This coincided with higher proportions of patients undergoing mechanical correction of MR and improved overall patient survival.

A Score to Assess Mortality After Percutaneous Mitral Valve Repair.

BACKGROUND: Risk stratification for transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (TEER) is paramount in the decision-making process for treating severe mitral regurgitation (MR). OBJECTIVES: This study sought to create and validate a user-friendly score (MitraScore) to predict the risk of mortality in patients undergoing TEER. METHODS: The derivation cohort was based on a multicentric international registry that included 1,119 patients referred for TEER between 2012 and 2020. Score discrimination was assessed using Harrell's c-statistic, and the calibration was evaluated with the Gronnesby and Borgan goodness-of-fit test. An external validation was carried out in 725 patients from the GIOTTO registry. RESULTS: After multivariate analysis, we identified 8 independent predictors of mortality during the follow-up (2.1 ± 1.8 years): age ≥75 years, anemia, glomerular filtrate rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2, left ventricular ejection fraction <40%, peripheral artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, high diuretic dose, and no therapy with renin-angiotensin system inhibitors. The MitraScore was derived by assigning 1 point to each independent predictor. The c-statistic was 0.70. Per each point of the MitraScore, the relative risk of mortality increased by 55% (HR: 1.55; 95% CI: 1.44-1.67; P < 0.001). The discrimination and calibration for mortality prediction was better than those of EuroSCORE II (c-statistic 0.61) or Society of Thoracic Surgeons score (c-statistic 0.57). The MitraScore maintained adequate performance in the validation cohort (c-statistic 0.66). The score was also predictive for heart failure rehospitalization and was correlated with the probability of clinical improvement. CONCLUSIONS: The MitraScore is a simple prediction algorithm for the prediction of follow-up mortality in patients treated with TEER.

Rheumatic mitral valve repair or replacement in the valve-in-valve era.

OBJECTIVE: For degenerative mitral disease, repair is superior to replacement; however, the best operative strategy for rheumatic mitral disease remains unclear. We evaluated the association between decision-making in choosing repair versus replacement and outcomes across 2 decades of rheumatic mitral surgery. METHODS: Patients undergoing isolated, first-time rheumatic mitral surgery were identified. Era 1 (1997-2008) and Era 2 (2009-2018) were distinguished by intraoperative assessment of anterior leaflet mobility/calcification (Era 2) in deciding between mitral repair versus replacement. Primary outcome was a composite of death, reoperation, and severe valve dysfunction. RESULTS: Among 180 patients, age was 59 ± 14 years, and ejection fraction was 58% ± 10%. A higher proportion in Era 1 (n = 56) compared with Era 2 (n = 124) had preoperative atrial fibrillation (68% vs 46%; P = .006); the groups were otherwise similar. Primary indication was mitral stenosis in 69% (124 out of 180; pure = 35, mixed = 89) and did not differ by era (P = .67). During Era 1, 70% (39 out of 56) underwent repair, compared with 33% (41 out of 124) during Era 2 (P < .001). Freedom from death, reoperation, or severe valve dysfunction at 5 years was higher in Era 2 (72% ± 9%) than Era 1 (54% ± 13%; P = .04). Five-year survival was higher in Era 2 than Era 1, but did not differ between repair versus replacement. Five-year cumulative incidence of reoperation with death as a competing risk did not differ by era, but was higher after repair than replacement. CONCLUSIONS: Careful assessment of anterior leaflet mobility/calcification to determine mitral repair or replacement was associated with improved outcomes. This decision-making strategy may alter the threshold for rheumatic mitral replacement in the current valve-in-valve era.

Treatment options for ischemic mitral regurgitation: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) is in evolution, as percutaneous procedures and complex surgical repair have been recently investigated in randomized clinical trials and matched studies. This study aims to review and compare the current treatment options for IMR. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using electronic databases. The primary outcome was all-cause long-term mortality. The secondary outcomes were perioperative mortality, unplanned rehospitalization, reoperation, and composite end points as defined in the original articles. RESULTS: A total of 12 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final meta-analysis. The MitraClip procedure did not confer a significant benefit in mortality and repeated hospitalization compared with medical therapy alone. In patients with moderate IMR, the adjunct of mitral procedure over coronary artery bypass graft is not associated with clinical improvements. When evaluating mitral valve (MV) replacement versus repair, hospital mortality was greater among patients undergoing replacement (odds ratio [OR], 1.91; P = .009), but both reoperation and readmission rates were lower (OR, 0.60, P = .05; and OR, 0.45, P < .02, respectively). Comparing restrictive annuloplasty alone with adjunctive subvalvular repair, subvalvular procedures resulted in fewer readmissions (OR, 0.50; P = .06) and adverse composite end points (P = .009). CONCLUSIONS: MitraClip procedure is not associated with improved outcomes compared with medical therapy. MV replacement is associated with increased early mortality but reduced reoperation rate and readmission rate compared with MV repair using annuloplasty in moderate-to-severe IMR. Despite no significant benefit in isolated outcomes comparing annular and adjunct subvalvular procedures, the adjunct of subvalvular procedures reduces the risk of major postoperative adverse events.

Isolated Congenital Mitral Regurgitation Repair in Children: Long-term Outcomes of Artificial Rings.

BACKGROUND: Because isolated congenital mitral regurgitation (ICMR) is rare, the role of artificial rings in annuloplasty for ICMR is still debated. In this study we compared long-term results of annuloplasty with and without rings for ICMR. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of all patients ≤ 18 years old undergoing repair for ICMR from 1993 to 2019 at our hospital. Techniques of annuloplasty depended on individual lesions of the mitral valve (MV). One hundred twelve cases were divided into 3 groups: group A (43 cases) with ≥26-mm ring, group B (35 cases) with <26-mm ring, and group C (34 cases) with a band. Study endpoints were overall survival and MV reoperation. RESULTS: Patients in group A were older than the others (median age 11 compared with 5 and 4 years, respectively). The MV lesions were complicated, but annular dilatation existed in 91% of cases. Three patients died, and there were 25 reoperations during a median follow-up period of 11 years. Groups B and C had higher rates of reoperation than group A (hazard ratios, 5.35 [95% confidence interval, 1.71-17.75] and 3.61 [95% confidence interval, 1.03-12.60], respectively). Most reoperations in group B (13/14 cases) were due to stenosis, whereas 6 of 7 reoperations in group C were due to recurrent regurgitation. CONCLUSION: MV reconstruction for ICMR in children had good long-term survival. Annuloplasty with ≥26-mm ring had the lowest risk of reoperation. In cases of young children bands are more favored than <26-mm rings, but they carry a risk of recurrent regurgitation.

Extramitral Valvular Cardiac Involvement in Patients With Significant Secondary Mitral Regurgitation.

Patients with secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR) often have extramitral valve cardiac involvement, which can influence the prognosis. SMR can be defined according to groups of extramitral valve cardiac involvement. The prognostic implications of such groups in patients with moderate and severe SMR (significant SMR) are unknown. A total of 325 patients with significant SMR were classified according to the extent of cardiac involvement on echocardiography: left ventricular involvement (group 1), left atrial involvement (group 2), tricuspid valve and pulmonary artery vasculature involvement (group 3), or right ventricular involvement (group 4). The primary end point was all-cause mortality. The prevalence of each cardiac involvement group was 17% in group 1, 12% in group 2, 23% in group 3%, and 48% in group 4. Group 3 and group 4 were independently associated with all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 1.794, 95% confidence interval 1.067 to 3.015, p = 0.027 and hazard ratio 1.857, 95% confidence interval 1.145 to 3.012, p = 0.012, respectively). In conclusion, progressive extramitral valve cardiac involvement (group 3 and group 4) was independently associated with all-cause mortality in patients with significant SMR.

Complete atrioventricular septal defect with absent or diminutive primum component: Incidence, anatomic characteristics, and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Repair of complete atrioventricular septal defect with absent or diminutive primum defect is challenging because of atrial septal malposition and abnormal anatomy of the left atrioventricular valve. We sought to define the incidence, anatomy, and surgical outcomes of this entity. METHODS: We identified all patients in our institutional database presenting for complete atrioventricular septal defect repair from 2006 to 2018. Operative reports and echocardiograms were reviewed to determine the presence and size of the primum defect, atrioventricular valve anatomy, degree of atrioventricular valve regurgitation, repair method, and complications, including reoperation for atrioventricular valve regurgitation. Functionally univentricular patients and those receiving repair at an outside institution were excluded. RESULTS: Of 183 patients with complete atrioventricular septal defect, absent/diminutive primum defect occurred in 16 patients (8.7%; 10 absent, 6 diminutive). Six patients (38%) had leftward malposition of the atrium septum on the common atrioventricular valve. The rate of reoperation for left atrioventricular valve regurgitation was 31% (3 early, 2 late), for which preoperative predictors included leftward malposition of the atrial septum onto the common atrioventricular valve (4/6 patients with malposition required reoperation, P = .036, Fisher exact test). One patient exhibiting this risk factor died. The overall rate of moderate or greater left atrioventricular valve regurgitation on the most recent postoperative echocardiogram was 13% (2/16 patients; median follow-up, 141 days; range, 3-2236 days). CONCLUSIONS: Complete atrioventricular septal defect with absent or diminutive primum defect is a unique variant of complete atrioventricular septal defect for which the risk of reoperation for left atrioventricular valve regurgitation after complete repair is high and risk factors include leftward malposition of the atrial septum on the common atrioventricular valve.

Concomitant Tricuspid Repair in Patients with Degenerative Mitral Regurgitation.

BACKGROUND: Tricuspid regurgitation is common in patients with severe degenerative mitral regurgitation. However, the evidence base is insufficient to inform a decision about whether to perform tricuspid-valve repair during mitral-valve surgery in patients who have moderate tricuspid regurgitation or less-than-moderate regurgitation with annular dilatation. METHODS: We randomly assigned 401 patients who were undergoing mitral-valve surgery for degenerative mitral regurgitation to receive a procedure with or without tricuspid annuloplasty (TA). The primary 2-year end point was a composite of reoperation for tricuspid regurgitation, progression of tricuspid regurgitation by two grades from baseline or the presence of severe tricuspid regurgitation, or death. RESULTS: Patients who underwent mitral-valve surgery plus TA had fewer primary-end-point events than those who underwent mitral-valve surgery alone (3.9% vs. 10.2%) (relative risk, 0.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.16 to 0.86; P = 0.02). Two-year mortality was 3.2% in the surgery-plus-TA group and 4.5% in the surgery-alone group (relative risk, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.25 to 1.88). The 2-year prevalence of progression of tricuspid regurgitation was lower in the surgery-plus-TA group than in the surgery-alone group (0.6% vs. 6.1%; relative risk, 0.09; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.69). The frequencies of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events, functional status, and quality of life were similar in the two groups at 2 years, although the incidence of permanent pacemaker implantation was higher in the surgery-plus-TA group than in the surgery-alone group (14.1% vs. 2.5%; rate ratio, 5.75; 95% CI, 2.27 to 14.60). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients undergoing mitral-valve surgery, those who also received TA had a lower incidence of a primary-end-point event than those who underwent mitral-valve surgery alone at 2 years, a reduction that was driven by less frequent progression to severe tricuspid regurgitation. Tricuspid repair resulted in more frequent permanent pacemaker implantation. Whether reduced progression of tricuspid regurgitation results in long-term clinical benefit can be determined only with longer follow-up. (Funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02675244.).

Repair or Replacement for Secondary Mitral Regurgitation: Results From Polish National Registry.

BACKGROUND: The optimal surgical strategy (repair vs replacement) for patients with secondary mitral (MV) regurgitation is questionable. METHODS: Patients who underwent MV repair or replacement for functional or ischemic mitral regurgitation between 2006 and 2017 were identified in Polish National Registry of Cardiac Surgery Procedures. Patients, who underwent additional procedures other than coronary artery bypass grafting or tricuspid valve surgery, as well as redo or emergency cases, were excluded. The long-term survival was verified based on National Health Fund registry. The survival was compared between MV repair and replacement both in the whole cohort and after propensity score matching. The Cox regression was used to seek for independent predictors of survival. RESULTS: Of 7633 identified patients, 1793 (23%) underwent MV replacement and 5840 (77%) underwent MV repair. Coronary artery bypass surgery was performed together with MV repair in 3992 (69%) patients and together with MV replacement in 915 (52%) patients (P < .001). Tricuspid valve surgery was added to 1393 (24%) MV repairs and to 561 (32%) MV replacements (P < .001). The crude actuarial 5-year survival was 71% (95% confidence interval [CI], 70%-72%) in the repair group and 66% (95% CI, 63%-68%) in the replacement group (P < .001). MV replacement was an independent predictor of mortality (hazard ratio, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.17-1.49) (P < .001) in Cox regression modeling. In the propensity-matched cohort (1105 pairs), the long-term mortality was also significantly higher in the replacement group (hazard ratio, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.06-1.45; P = .008). CONCLUSIONS: Repair of secondary mitral regurgitation has an associated survival benefit compared with MV replacement.

Outcomes Stratified by Adapted Inclusion Criteria After Mitral Edge-to-Edge Repair.

BACKGROUND: Although mitral valve transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (M-TEER) achieves symptomatic benefit for a broad spectrum of patients with relevant secondary mitral regurgitation, conflicting data exist on its prognostic impact. OBJECTIVES: Adapted enrollment criteria approaching those used in the COAPT (Cardiovascular Outcomes Assessment of the MitraClip Percutaneous Therapy for Heart Failure Patients With Functional Mitral Regurgitation) and MITRA-FR (Percutaneous Repair or Medical Treatment for Secondary Mitral Regurgitation) trials were retrospectively applied to a European real-world registry to evaluate the influence of the respective criteria on outcomes. METHODS: A total of 1,022 patients included in the EuroSMR (European Registry of Transcatheter Repair for Secondary Mitral Regurgitation) registry and treated with M-TEER (November 2008 to September 2019) were stratified into COAPT-eligible (n = 353 [34.5%]) and COAPT-ineligible (n = 669 [65.5%]) as well as MITRA-FR-eligible (n = 408 [48.3%]) and MITRA-FR-ineligible (n = 437 [51.7%]) groups. RESULTS: Although the stratification of patients according to adapted MITRA-FR criteria led to comparable outcomes regarding all-cause mortality (P = 0.19), the application of adapted COAPT enrollment criteria demonstrated lower mortality rates in COAPT-eligible compared with COAPT-ineligible patients (P < 0.001). Multivariable Cox regression analysis identified New York Heart Association functional class IV (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.29; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.53-3.42; P < 0.001), logarithmic N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (HR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.24-1.75; P < 0.001), and right ventricular-to-pulmonary arterial coupling (HR: 0.10; 95% CI: 0.02-0.57; P = 0.009) as independent predictors of outcome. Yet improvement of functional outcome was demonstrated in a subset of patients irrespective of COAPT eligibility status. CONCLUSIONS: In this real-world cohort of patients with secondary mitral regurgitation undergoing M-TEER, the retrospective application of adapted COAPT enrollment criteria successfully identified a specific phenotype demonstrating lower mortality rates. On the contrary, stratification according to adapted MITRA-FR criteria resulted in comparable outcomes.

2-Year Outcomes of Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement in Patients With Severe Symptomatic Mitral Regurgitation.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) is feasible for selected patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) who are poor candidates for valve surgery. Intermediate-term to long-term TMVR outcomes have not been reported. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate the safety and effectiveness through 2-year follow-up of TMVR in high-surgical-risk patients with severe MR. METHODS: The first 100 patients enrolled in the Expanded Clinical Study of the Tendyne Mitral Valve System, an open-label, nonrandomized, prospective study of transapical TMVR, were followed for 2 years. RESULTS: The patients (aged 74.7 ± 8.0 years, 69.0% male) had symptomatic (66.0% New York Heart Association [NYHA] functional class III or IV) grade 3+ or 4+ MR that was secondary or mixed in 89 (89.0%). Prostheses were successfully implanted in 97 (97.0%) patients. At 2 years, all-cause mortality was 39.0%; 17 (43.6%) of 39 deaths occurred during the first 90 days. Heart failure hospitalization (HFH) fell from 1.30 events per year preprocedure to 0.51 per year in the 2 years post-TMVR (P < 0.0001). At 2 years, 93.2% of surviving patients had no MR. No patient had >1+ MR. The improvement in symptoms at 1 year (88.5% NYHA functional class I or II) was sustained to 2 years (81.6% NYHA functional class I or II). Among survivors, the left ventricular ejection fraction was 45.6 ± 9.4% at baseline and 39.8 ± 9.5% at 2 years (P = 0.0012). Estimated right ventricular systolic pressure decreased from 47.6 ± 8.6 mm Hg to 32.5 ± 10.4 mm Hg (P < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the impact of TMVR on severity of MR, reduction in HFH rate, and improvement in symptoms was sustained through 2 years. All-cause mortality and the need for HFH was highest in the first 3 months postprocedure. (Expanded Clinical Study of the Tendyne Mitral Valve System; NCT02321514).

Prognostic implications of valvular heart disease in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Valvular heart disease (VHD) in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) is a puzzling clinical entity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic effect of significant VHD (sVHD) among patients with non-valvular AF. METHODS: This is a post-hoc analysis of the MISOAC-AF trial (NCT02941978). Consecutive inpatients with non-valvular AF who underwent echocardiography were included. sVHD was defined as the presence of at least moderate aortic stenosis (AS) or aortic/mitral/tricuspid regurgitation (AR/MR/TR). Cox regression analyses with covariate adjustments were used for outcome prediction. RESULTS: In total, 983 patients with non-valvular AF (median age 76 [14] years) were analyzed over a median follow-up period of 32 [20] months. sVHD was diagnosed in 575 (58.5%) AF patients. sVHD was associated with all-cause mortality (21.6%/yr vs. 6.5%/yr; adjusted HR [aHR] 1.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17-2.06; p = 0.02), cardiovascular mortality (16%/yr vs. 4%/yr; aHR 1.70, 95% CI 1.09-2.66; p = 0.02) and heart failure-hospitalization (5.8%/yr vs. 1.8%/yr; aHR 2.53, 95% CI 1.35-4.63; p = 0.02). The prognostic effect of sVHD was particularly evident in patients aged < 80 years and in those without history of heart failure (p for interaction < 0.05, in both subgroups). After multivariable adjustment, moderate/severe AS and TR were associated with mortality, while AS and MR with heart failure-hospitalization. CONCLUSION: Among patients with non-valvular AF, sVHD was highly prevalent and beared high prognostic value across a wide spectrum of clinical outcomes, especially in patients aged < 80 years or in the absence of heart failure. Predominantly AS, as well as MR and TR, were associated with worse prognosis.

Prognostic Implications of Left Ventricular Myocardial Work Indices in Patients With Secondary Mitral Regurgitation.

BACKGROUND: Assessment of left ventricular (LV) function in patients with secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR) remains challenging but is an important parameter for risk stratification. The association of LV myocardial work components (work index [GWI], constructive [GCW] and wasted [GWW] work, and work efficiency) derived from pressure-strain loops obtained with speckle tracking echocardiography, and all-cause mortality in patients with SMR was investigated. METHODS: LV myocardial GWI, GCW, GWW, and global work efficiency were measured with speckle tracking strain echocardiography in 373 patients (72% men, median age 68 years) with various grades of SMR. All-cause mortality was the primary end point. RESULTS: Mild SMR was observed in 143 patients, 128 had moderate SMR, and 102 had severe SMR. Patients with severe SMR had the largest LV volumes and the worst LV ejection fraction and LV global longitudinal strain. In patients with severe SMR, LV GWI and GCW were more impaired (500 mm Hg% versus 680 mm Hg% P=0.024 and 678 mm Hg% versus 851 mm Hg% P=0.006, respectively), while GWW was lower (130 mm Hg% versus 260 mm Hg% P<0.001, respectively) and global work efficiency was significantly higher (82% versus 76%, P=0.001) compared with patients with mild SMR. After a median follow-up of 56 months, 161 patients died. LV GWI≤500 mm Hg%, LV GCW≤750 mm Hg%, and LV GWW<300 mm Hg% were independently associated with excess mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with severe SMR had the worst LV GWI and LV GCW but better LV GWW and global work efficiency reflecting the unloading of the LV in the low-pressure left atrial chamber. These parameters were independently associated with worse long-term survival in patients with SMR.

Outcome of mitral valve repair or replacement for non-ischemic mitral regurgitation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Mitral regurgitation (MR) is a rather common valvular heart disease. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare the outcomes, and complications of mitral valve (MV) replacement with surgical MV repair of non-ischemic MR (NIMR) METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched until October, 2020. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they included patients with MR and reported early (30-day or in-hospital) or late all-cause mortality. For each study, data on all-cause mortality and incidence of reoperation and operative complications in both groups were used to generate odds ratios (ORs) or hazard ratios (HRs). This study is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42018089608. RESULTS: The literature search yielded 4834 studies, of which 20 studies, including a total of 21,898 patients with NIMR, were included. The pooled analysis showed that lower age, less female inclusion and incident of hypertension, significantly higher rates of diabetes and atrial fibrillation in the MV replacement group than MV repair group. No significant differences in the rates of pre-operative left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) and heart failure were observed between groups. The number of patients in the MV repair group was lower than in the MV replacement group. We found that there were significantly increased risks of mortality associated with replacement of MR. Moreover, the rate of re-operation and post-operative MR in the MV repair group was lower than in the MV replacement group. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with NIMR, MV repair achieves higher survival and leads to fewer complications than surgical MV replacement. In light of these results, we suggest that MV repair surgery should be a priority for NIMR patients.