Background: The efficacy of patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure remains controversial, and it is unclear which patient groups are best benefited. We performed this meta-analysis to clarify the efficacy of PFO closure of younger patients for prevention of recurrent ischemic neurological events.
Methods: We systematically searched for studies of PFO closure for younger patients under the age of 55, and pooled available data on PFO closure of younger vs older patients and on PFO closure of younger patients vs medical therapy. The primary endpoints were the composite outcome of recurrent ischemic neurological events [stroke and/or transient ischemic attack (TIA)]. The secondary endpoints included recurrent stroke, TIA, atrial fibrillation (AF) and bleeding events. We calculated the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) using fixed-effect and random-effect models.
Results: Three randomized controlled trials (RCT) and 13 observational studies were eligible. Compared with older patients undergoing PFO closure, younger patients undergoing closure had a lower risk of composite outcome (OR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.28 to .56; P < .001) and AF (OR: 0.25, 95% CI: 0.10-0.61; P = .003). Compared with medical therapy, PFO closure of younger patients reduced the risk of composite outcome (OR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.33-0.75; P<.001); there was no statistical difference in total complications of AF and bleeding events (OR: 2.15, 95% CI: 0.15-30.37; P = .57). Separate analysis of stroke and TIA showed that PFO closure in younger patients was more effective in preventing stroke (OR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.28-0.72; P < .001) and TIA (OR: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.21-0.58); P < .001) compared with older patients. Compared with medical therapy, PFO closure of younger patients reduced the risk of stroke (OR: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.13-0.51; P < .001); but there was no difference in the risk of TIA (OR: 1.07, 95% CI: 0.16-7.01; P = .94).
Conclusions: Compared with PFO closure of older patients and medical therapy, PFO closure of younger patients can benefit more for the prevention of recurrent ischemic neurological events. Our results indicate that PFO closure is the best treatment strategy for younger patients under the age of 55.