Outcomes in Moderate Mixed Aortic Valve Disease: Is it Time for a Paradigm Shift?

J Am Coll Cardiol. 2016 May 24;67(20):2321-2329. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2016.03.509.

Abstract

Background: A direct comparison of outcomes between moderate mixed aortic valve disease (MAVD) and isolated aortic stenosis (AS) or aortic regurgitation (AR) has not been performed, making evidence-based recommendations difficult in patients with MAVD.

Objectives: This study sought to determine adverse event (AE) occurrence (the primary endpoint), defined as New York Heart Association functional class III/IV symptoms, aortic valve replacement, or cardiac death, and to compare AE rates between MAVD and isolated AS or AR.

Methods: Asymptomatic patients were identified with moderate MAVD and an ejection fraction ≥50% and were followed at Mayo Clinic from 1994 to 2013. Moderate MAVD was defined as a combination of moderate AS and moderate AR. Age- and sex-matched control groups were selected with isolated moderate AR (n = 117), moderate AS (n = 117), or severe AS (n = 117).

Results: At 9.1 ± 4.2 years of follow-up, patients with moderate MAVD (n = 251) had a mean age of 63 ± 11 years, 73% were male, and 38% had bicuspid valve. AE occurred in 193 (77%) patients in this group, including symptom development (69%), aortic valve replacement (67%), and cardiac death (4%). Predictors of AE were older age (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.71 per decade; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.38 to 1.97 per decade; p = 0.001), and relative wall thickness >0.42 (HR: 2.01; 95% CI: 1.86 to 2.33; p = 0.002). AE rates were similar in the MAVD and severe AS group (71% vs. 68% at 5 years; p = 0.49), but were significantly higher compared with the moderate AS and AR groups.

Conclusions: MAVD patients had outcomes comparable to those with severe AS, and preserved ejection fraction and should be monitored closely for symptoms.

Keywords: adverse events; aortic regurgitation; aortic stenosis; aortic valve replacement.

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Aortic Valve / diagnostic imaging
  • Aortic Valve Insufficiency / mortality*
  • Aortic Valve Insufficiency / surgery*
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis / mortality*
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis / surgery*
  • Asymptomatic Diseases
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Death, Sudden
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Heart Failure / mortality
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Infarction / mortality
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Stroke Volume