Prognostic impact of pulmonary artery systolic pressure in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis

Abstract

Baseline pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a predictor of poor outcomes in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). Surgical aortic valve replacement is thought to alleviate PH. The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic impact of PH in patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). An observational cohort study was conducted using prospectively collected data on 277 consecutive patients with severe AS who underwent TAVR at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minnesota) from November 1, 2008, to June 31, 2013. Clinical and echocardiographic data, pulmonary function characteristics, and outcomes stratified by tertiles of pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) were analyzed. From 277 patients who underwent TAVR, 251 patients had PASP assessment at baseline. Those in the highest PASP tertile (PASP ≥49 mm Hg) had more severe chronic lung disease and worse diastolic dysfunction. Being in the highest PASP tertile was an independent predictor of long-term mortality (hazard ratio 2.88, 95% confidence interval 1.15 to 7.23). Patients in the highest PASP tertile had longer lengths of hospital stay, while other short-term outcomes (30-day mortality and readmission, stroke, prolonged ventilation, and reoperation for bleeding) were similar across PASP tertiles. TAVR was associated with a decrease in PASP in the highest PASP tertile at 1 week after the procedure (-8 ± 14 mm Hg) and at 3 months (-7 ± 15 mm Hg) compared with baseline. In conclusion, among patients with severe AS who underwent TAVR, higher baseline PASP was strongly associated with diastolic dysfunction and chronic lung disease. Patients with higher baseline PASP tolerated TAVR relatively well in the early postprocedural phase, with diminished long-term survival. PH should not disqualify patients with severe AS from consideration for TAVR.