Device innovation in cardiovascular medicine: a report from the European Society of Cardiology Cardiovascular Round Table

Research performed in Europe has driven cardiovascular device innovation. This includes, but is not limited to, percutaneous coronary intervention, cardiac imaging, transcatheter heart valve implantation, and device therapy of cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure. An important part of future medical progress involves the evolution of medical technology and the ongoing development of artificial intelligence and machine learning. There is a need to foster an environment conducive to medical technology development and validation so that Europe can continue to play a major role in device innovation while providing high standards of safety. This paper summarizes viewpoints on the topic of device innovation in cardiovascular medicine at the European Society of Cardiology Cardiovascular Round Table, a strategic forum for high-level dialogue to discuss issues related to the future of cardiovascular health in Europe. Devices are developed and improved through an iterative process throughout their lifecycle. Early feasibility studies demonstrate proof of concept and help to optimize the design of a device. If successful, this should ideally be followed by randomized clinical trials comparing novel devices vs. accepted standards of care when available and the collection of post-market real-world evidence through registries. Unfortunately, standardized procedures for feasibility studies across various device categories have not yet been implemented in Europe. Cardiovascular imaging can be used to diagnose and characterize patients for interventions to improve procedural results and to monitor devices long term after implantation. Randomized clinical trials often use cardiac imaging-based inclusion criteria, while less frequently trials randomize patients to compare the diagnostic or prognostic value of different modalities. Applications using machine learning are increasingly important, but specific regulatory standards and pathways remain in development in both Europe and the USA. Standards are also needed for smart devices and digital technologies that support device-driven biomonitoring. Changes in device regulation introduced by the European Union aim to improve clinical evidence, transparency, and safety, but they may impact the speed of innovation, access, and availability. Device development programmes including dialogue on unmet needs and advice on study designs must be driven by a community of physicians, trialists, patients, regulators, payers, and industry to ensure that patients have access to innovative care.

Reducing length of stay after transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation: the FAST-TAVI II trial

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The length of stay (LOS) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) remains extremely variable whereas early discharge has been shown to be feasible and safe. The study objective was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an intervention aimed at reducing LOS after transfemoral TAVI.

METHODS

FAST-TAVI II is a prospective, multicentre, cluster, randomized, controlled study including patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis, who had transfemoral TAVI. The intervention consisted in a dedicated training programme to implement 10 quality of care measures to reduce LOS with an implementation phase of eight weeks. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients discharged early within 3 days. Secondary endpoints included: LOS, 30-day mortality and 30-day incidence of readmission for cardiovascular events.

RESULTS

During the study period, 969 patients were enrolled in the intervention group and 860 patients in the control group. Mean age was 81.9 ± 6.6 years and mean EuroSCORE II was 4.4 ± 4.5%. Early discharge was achieved in 563 (58.1%) patients in the intervention group vs. 364 (42.3%) patients in the control group (P < .0001). Median LOS was significantly reduced in the intervention group compared to the control group [3 (IQR: 3) vs. 4 days (IQR: 3), P < .0001]. Thirty-day mortality was low and similar in the two groups (0.5% vs. 0.9%, P = .30), as were 30-day readmissions (4.6% vs. 2.8%, P = .28).

CONCLUSIONS

The intervention was simple and fast to implement, and was effective and safe to reduce LOS and increase the proportion of patients discharged early after TAVI (NCT04503655).

Clinical effects of permanent pacemaker implantation after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: Insights from the nationwide FRANCE-TAVI registry

BACKGROUND

The influence of permanent pacemaker implantation upon outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) remains controversial.

AIMS

To evaluate the impact of permanent pacemaker implantation after TAVI on short- and long-term mortality, and on the risk of hospitalization for heart failure.

METHODS

Data from the large FRANCE-TAVI registry, linked to the French national health single-payer claims database, were analysed to compare 30-day and long-term mortality rates and hospitalization for heart failure rates among patients with versus without permanent pacemaker implantation after TAVI. Multivariable regressions were performed to adjust for confounders.

RESULTS

A total of 36,549 patients (mean age 82.6years; 51.6% female) who underwent TAVI from 2013 to 2019 were included in the present analysis. Among them, 6999 (19.1%) received permanent pacemaker implantation during the index hospitalization, whereas 232 (0.6%) underwent permanent pacemaker implantation between hospital discharge and 30days after TAVI, at a median of 11 (interquartile range: 7-18) days. In-hospital permanent pacemaker implantation was not associated with an increased risk of death between discharge and 30days (adjusted odds ratio: 0.91, 95% confidence interval: 0.64-1.29). At 5years, the incidence of all-cause death was higher among patients with versus without permanent pacemaker implantation within 30days of the procedure (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.13, 95% confidence interval: 1.07-1.19). Permanent pacemaker implantation within 30days of TAVI was also associated with a higher 5-year rate of hospitalization for heart failure (adjusted subhazard ratio: 1.17, 95% confidence interval: 1.11-1.23).

CONCLUSIONS

Permanent pacemaker implantation after TAVI is associated with an increased risk of long-term hospitalization for heart failure and all-cause mortality. Further research to mitigate the risk of postprocedural permanent pacemaker implantation is needed as TAVI indications expand to lower-risk patients.

Safety and efficacy of NOAC vs. VKA in patients treated by PCI: a retrospective study of the FRANCE PCI registry

Introduction

Dual antithrombotic therapy (DAT) combining oral anticoagulation (OAC), preferentially Non-vitamin K antagonist OAC (NOAC) and single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT) for a period of 6-12 months is recommended after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with an indication for OAC.

Objective

To compare outcomes between vitamin K antagonist (VKA) and NOAC-treated patients in the nation-wide France PCI registry.

Methods

All consecutive patients from the France PCI registry treated by PCI and discharged with OAC between 2014 and 2020 were included and followed one-year. Major bleeding was defined as Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) classification ≥3 and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) as the composite of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), and ischemic stroke. A propensity-score analysis was used.

Results

Of the 7,277 eligible participants, 2,432 (33.4%) were discharged on VKA and 4,845 (66.6%) on NOAC. After propensity-score adjustment, one-year major bleeding was less frequent in NOAC vs. VKA-treated participants [3.1% vs. 5.2%, -2.1% (-3.6% to -0.6%), p = 0.005 as well as the rate of MACE [9.2% vs. 11.9%, -2.7% (-5.0% to -0.4%), p = 0.02]. One-year mortality was also significantly decreased in NOAC vs. VKA-treated participants [7.4% vs. 9.9%, -2.6% (-4.7% to -0.5%), p = 0.02]. The area under ROC curves of the anticoagulant treatment propensity score was estimated at 0.93, suggesting potential indication bias.

Conclusions

NOAC seems to have a better efficacy and safety profile than VKA. However, potential indication bias were found.

Impact of Prosthesis-Patient Mismatch After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

BACKGROUND

Data on the long-term impact of prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) on outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remain sparse. We therefore aimed to investigate the incidence, predictive factors, and long-term prognostic impact of PPM on bioprosthesis durability and mortality.

METHODS

This was a single-centre retrospective study including 2117 patients who underwent TAVR for aortic stenosis from 2002 to 2022. Moderate PPM was defined by indexed effective orifice area (iEOA) > 0.65 and ≤ 0.85 cm2/m2 (> 0.55 and ≤ 0.70 cm2/m2 if BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) and severe PPM by an iEOA ≤ 0.65 cm2/m2 (≤ 0.55 cm2/m2 If BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2).

RESULTS

There were 351 patients (16.6%) with PPM, including 39 patients (1.8%) with severe PPM and 312 patients (14.7%) with moderate PPM. The mean follow-up duration was 31.2 ± 26.5 months. Factors independently associated with the occurrence of PPM were body surface area (odds ratio [OR] 3.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.32-8.35; P = 0.01), valve-in-valve TAVR (OR 6.12, 95% CI 2.29-16.08; P < 0.001), small annulus (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.41-4.07; P = 0.001), and the use of a balloon-expandable valve (OR 4.17, 95% CI 2.17-8.33; P < 0.001). PPM was associated with increased risk of mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.3, 95% CI 1.1-1.5, P = 0.004) and valve thrombosis (HR 4.2, 95% CI 1.4-12.6, P = 0.01), and a trend towards increased risk of structural valve deterioration (HR 1.7, 95% CI 0.9-2.9; P = 0.08).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study suggest that PPM has a negative long-term impact on outcomes after TAVR. These findings emphasise the importance of preventing PPM.

Very long-term outcomes after acute myocardial infarction in young men and women: Insights from the FAST-MI program

AIMS

Conflicting data exists about long-term outcomes in young women and men experiencing acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

METHODS

The FAST-MI program consists of three nationwide French surveys carried out 5years apart from 2005 to 2015, including consecutive patients with AMI over a 1-month period with up to 10-year follow-up. The present analysis focused on adults≤50 yo according to their gender.

RESULTS

Women accounted for 17.5% (335) of the 1912 patients under 50 yo and had a similar age as men (43.9±5.1 vs. 43.9±5.5years, P=0.92). They received less percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) than men (85.9% vs. 91.3%, P=0.005), even in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (83.6% vs. 93.5%, P<0.001). Recommended secondary prevention medications were less frequently prescribed at discharge in women (40.6% vs. 52.8%, P<0.001), a trend that persisted in 2015 (59.1% vs. 72.8% in 2015, P<0.001). Still, ten-year survival was similar in men (90.5%) and women (92.3%) (crude HR: 0.86 [95% CI: 0.55-1.35], P=0.52, adjusted HR: 0.63 [95% CI: 0.38-1.07], P=0.09); similar results were found for ten-year survival among hospital survivors (91.2% in men vs. 93.7% in women, adjusted HR: 0.87 [95% CI: 0.45-1.66], P=0.66). Of the 1684 patients alive at hospital discharge with morbidity follow-up≥6months available, death, AMI or stroke at 8years occurred in 12.9% men and 11.2% in women (adjusted HR: 0.90 [95% CI: 0.60-1.33], P=0.59).

CONCLUSIONS

Young women with AMI undergo less cardiac interventions and are less often prescribed secondary prevention treatment than men, even when significant coronary artery disease is present, but keep a similar long-term prognosis after AMI. Optimal management of these young patients, regardless of gender, is necessary to ensure best outcomes after this major cardiovascular event.

Is excessive ventricular irregularity predictive of rehospitalization in patients with permanent AF and HFpEF?

AIMS

There are currently limited therapeutic approaches for patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) who have developed permanent atrial fibrillation (AF). We aimed to analyse the impact of ventricular irregularity on heart failure rehospitalization in patients with permanent AF and HFpEF.

METHODS AND RESULTS

All 24 h ambulatory Holter monitoring performed in our centre within a month after a first heart failure hospitalization were screened. Patients with HFpEF and permanent AF were included in the retrospective analysis. The following parameters of ventricular irregularity were calculated over the 24 h recording period: standard deviation of all RR intervals (SDNN), coefficient of variation of SDNN (CV-SDNN = SDNN/mean RR), root of the mean squared differences of successive RR intervals (RMSSD), and percentage of consecutive RR intervals with difference over 50 ms (pNN50). The primary endpoint was rehospitalization for acute heart failure (HFrH). From 2010 to 2021, 51/216 screened patients were included. During a median follow-up of 3.13 years, 29/51 patients reached the primary endpoint. HFrH patients had higher SDNN (205 ± 65 vs. 154 ± 46 ms; P < 0.01), CV-SDNN (26 ± 8% vs. 19 ± 5%, P < 0.01), RMSSD (182 ± 47 vs. 138 ± 65 ms, P = 0.013), and pNN50 (76 ± 9 vs. 58 ± 26, P < 0.001) when compared with patients with no HFrH. In multivariate analysis, all those parameters remained significantly associated with HFrH.

CONCLUSIONS

In this pilot study, we found some evidences for a deleterious impact of excessive ventricular irregularity on HFrH in AF patients with HFpEF. Those new findings could pave the way for new prognosis and therapeutic approaches in this patients' population.

Management of coronary artery disease in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation. A clinical consensus statement from the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions in collaboration with the ESC Working Group on Cardiovascular Surgery

Significant coronary artery disease (CAD) is a frequent finding in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), and the management of these two conditions becomes of particular importance with the extension of the procedure to younger and lower-risk patients. Yet, the preprocedural diagnostic evaluation and the indications for treatment of significant CAD in TAVI candidates remain a matter of debate. In this clinical consensus statement, a group of experts from the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI) in collaboration with the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Working Group on Cardiovascular Surgery aims to review the available evidence on the topic and proposes a rationale for the diagnostic evaluation and indications for percutaneous revascularisation of CAD in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter treatment. Moreover, it also focuses on commissural alignment of transcatheter heart valves and coronary re-access after TAVI and redo-TAVI.

Subtotal Nephrectomy Associated with a High-Phosphate Diet in Rats Mimics the Development of Calcified Aortic Valve Disease Associated with Chronic Renal Failure

Introduction. This study addressed the hypothesis that subtotal nephrectomy associated with a high-phosphorus diet (5/6Nx + P) in rats represents a suitable animal model to mimic the cardiovascular consequences of chronic kidney disease (CKD) including calcified aortic valve disease (CAVD). Indeed, the latter contributes to the high morbidity and mortality of CKD patients and sorely lacks preclinical models for pathophysiological and pharmacological studies. Methods. Renal and cardiovascular function and structure were compared between sham-operated and 5/6 Nx rats + P 10 to 12 weeks after surgery. Results. As expected, 11 weeks after surgery, 5/6Nx + P rats developed CKD as demonstrated by their increase in plasma creatinine and urea nitrogen and decrease in glomerular filtration rate, estimated by using fluorescein-isothiocyanate-labelled sinistrin, anemia, polyuria, and polydipsia compared to sham-operated animals on a normal-phosphorus diet. At the vascular level, 5/6Nx + P rats had an increase in the calcium content of the aorta; a decrease in mesenteric artery dilatation in response to a stepwise increase in flow, illustrating the vascular dysfunction; and an increase in blood pressure. Moreover, immunohistology showed a marked deposition of hydroxyapatite crystals in the aortic valve of 5/6Nx + P rats. Echocardiography demonstrated that this was associated with a decrease in aortic valve cusp separation and an increase in aortic valve mean pressure gradient and in peak aortic valve velocity. Left-ventricular diastolic and systolic dysfunction as well as fibrosis were also present in 5/6Nx + P rats. Conclusion. This study demonstrates that 5/6Nx + P recapitulates the cardiovascular consequences observed in humans with CKD. In particular, the initiation of CAVD was shown, highlighting the interest of this animal model to study the mechanisms involved in the development of aortic stenosis and test new therapeutic strategies at an early stage of the disease.

RVOT premature ventricular contractions induce significant anatomical displacement during 3D mapping: A cause of mid-term ablation failure?

BACKGROUND

Catheter ablation is a first-line treatment for symptomatic right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) premature ventricular complexes (PVCs). There is evidence of displacement of the ablation target site during PVCs relative to the location in sinus rhythm (SR).

AIM

To analyse the extent of displacement induced by RVOT PVCs and its effect on the ablation sites and the mid-term efficacy of ablation.

METHODS

In this multicentre French study, we retrospectively included 18 consecutive adults referred for ablation of RVOT PVCs using a three-dimensional (3D) mapping system. PVC activation maps were performed conventionally (initial map), then each PVC activation point was manually reannotated considering the 3D location on a previous SR beat (corrected map). The ablation-site locations on the initial or the corrected area, including the 10 best activation points, were analysed. Mid-term efficacy was evaluated.

RESULTS

The direction of map shift during PVCs relative to the map in SR occurred along a vertical axis in 16 of 18 patients. The mean activation-point displacement for each of the 18 mapped chambers was 5.6±2.2mm. Mid-term recurrence of RVOT PVCs occurred in 5 (28%) patients. In all patients with recurrences, no significant ablation lesion was located on the corrected (true) site of origin.

CONCLUSIONS

RVOT PVCs induce a vertical anatomical shift that can mislead physicians about the true location of the arrhythmia's site of origin. Our study highlights the association between mid-term PVC recurrence and the absence of spatial overlap between ablation points and the corrected site of origin.

Aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis in France – influence of centers' volumes on TAVR adoption rate and outcomes

Aims

Over the last decade, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) became extensively used, now being the recommended as first line procedure for aortic valve replacement (AVR) in selected patients' populations. It is unknown whether TAVR adoption rate and variability in outcomes is influenced by centers' volume.

Methods

From a French administrative hospital-discharge database, we collected all AVR performed in France between 2007 and 2019. Centers were stratified to terciles based on their annual SAVR per year per center during 2007–2009 (“pre TAVR era”).

Results

There was 218,489 AVRs (153,747 SAVR and 74,732 TAVR) performed in 46 centers between 2007–2019. Number of total AVR and even more so number of number of TAVR significantly and linearly increased from 2007 to 2019 in all terciles but faster in the high volume tercile (+17, +17 and +31 AVR/center/year in the low, middle and high terciles respectively, P [ANCOVA]&lt;0.001; +11, + 19 and +33 TAVR/center/year in the low, medium and high tercile respectively, P [ANCOVA] &lt;0.00, Figure 1). The age of patients underwent TAVR remained grossly unchanged in all three terciles, however, the Charlson index declined from 2010 to 2019 (from 1.35±1.42 to 0.65±1.04, from 1.21±1.40 to 0.65±1.05 and from 1.53±1.58 to 0.81±1.21, in the low, middle and high terciles, P for trend &lt;0.001, 0.021, and &lt;0.001, respectively). Charlson score in the years 2017–2019, was higher in the high than middle and low terciles (0.87±1.22, 0.76±1.11 and 0.65±1.04, respectively, P&lt;0.0001). The in-hospital mortality rate for TAVR significantly declined from 2010 to 2019 for TAVR in all terciles (from 8.3% to 2.1%, from 7.5% to 2.5% and from 8.2% to 2.1% for low, middle and high TAVR terciles, respectively; p for trend = 0.002, 0.001 and &lt;0.001, respectively, Figure 2). Average mortality in 2017–2019 was similar in all terciles (2.3%, 2.5% and 2.2% for low, middle and high terciles, respectively, P=0.47). After adjusting for age, sex and Charlson score, mortality was higher in the low tercile compared with middle and high terciles (OR 1.15, P&lt;0.001, confidence interval [CI] 1.0–1.2, and OR 1.18, P&lt;0.001, CI 1.1–1.2, respectively).

Conclusions

From 2007 to 2019 total AVR linearly increased, mostly due to increase in TAVR, irrespective of centers' volume, but increase rate was higher in high volume centers. A constant decline in patients risk profile, with a striking decrease in mortality rate, was observed in all volume terciles. High-volume centers patients' have higher risk profile, with adjusted mortality slightly lower than medium and low volume centers.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Very long-term outcomes after acute myocardial infarction in young men and women

Aims

There is a paucity of data on very long-term outcomes in young women and men experiencing acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods and results

The FAST-MI program consists of three nationwide French surveys carried out 5 years apart from 2005 to 2015, including consecutive AMI patients over a 1-month period with up to 10-year follow-up. The present analysis focused on adults ≤50 yo according to their gender. Women accounted for 17.5% (N=335) of the 1912 patients under 50 yo and were as old as men (43.9±5.5 vs. 43.9±5.1yo, p=0.92). Non-significant coronary artery disease was more frequent in women (12.8% vs. 5.8%, P&lt;0.001). Women with significant coronary artery disease underwent less percutaneous coronary internvention (PCI) than men (85.9% vs. 91.3%, p=0.005), though primary PCI in ST-elevated myocardial infarction was as frequent in women (67.3% vs. 66.8%). Recommended secondary prevention medications were less prescribed at discharge in women (40.6% vs. 52.8%, p&lt;0.001), a trend that persisted in 2015 (59.1% vs. 72.8% in 2015, p&lt;0.001). Still, ten-year survival was similar in men (90.5%) and women (92.6%) (crude HR 0.87 [95% CI 0.55–1.57], adjusted HR 0.77 [95% CI 0.48–1.23], p=0.27) even among hospital survivors (adjusted HR 0.64 [95% CI 0.32–1.30], p=0.22). Ten-year survival was similar in patients with myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries compared with those with significant coronary artery disease (91.8% vs. 91.0%, P=0.46)), both among men (91.6% vs. 90.7%) and women (92.9% vs. 93.0%). However, when taking into account early revascularization and discharge medications, in patients with significant coronary artery disease, adjusted 10-year mortality was significantly lower in women (HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.29–0.96, P=0.04).

Conclusions

Ten-year survival in young women with AMI is similar to that of men. However, in those with significant coronary artery disease, improving secondary prevention in women should result in better long-term outcome.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): French Society of Cardiology

Characteristics of young women presenting with acute myocardial infarction: the prospective, multicentre, observational WAMIF study

Background

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in women, killing sevenfold more women than breast cancer. Rates of hospital death for myocardial infarction in women, although decreasing, remains significantly higher than in men (more than double), especially among women under the age of 50. The occurrence of myocardial infarction in non-menopausal women is not unusual, and the incidence continues to rise. While women under the age of 60 accounted for less than 12% of patients with myocardial infarction admitted in 1995, they accounted for more than 25% in 2015. In addition to the traditional cardiovascular risk factors, women present specific ones linked to hormonal modifications, inflammatory high-risk profiles, and thrombophilia.

Purpose

We comprehensively and systematically collected all clinical and biological data and the results of morphological explorations in all women admitted for myocardial infarction under the age of 50 in high-volume French centres. To date, no systematic descriptive analysis has been carried out incorporating not only clinical, morphological, and extraordinary characteristics, but biological characteristics, in particular hormonal and immunological parameters.

Methods

This prospective, observational study included all women admitted for myocardial infarction under the age of 50 years at 30 centres in France from May 2017 to June 2019.

Results

The population comprised 314 women (mean age 44.9 years): 192 presented with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and 122 with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, 75% were current smokers, 35 had a family history of cardiovascular disease, 33% had a complication of pregnancy, and 55% reported recent emotional stress. Ten had a normal coronary angiogram. Independent predictors of premature MI, &lt;35 yo, were cannabis use and oral contraceptive therapy. No deaths, but 3 strokes, 3 recurrent myocardial infarctions, and 1 serious bleed occurred during hospitalization. At 12 months, 2 deaths occurred but linked to progressive cancer, 25 patients had recurrent PCI, 4 symptoms driven. Otherwise, 90.4% were event free and 72% completely symptoms free.

Conclusion

The WAMIF study showed that most young women with acute myocardial infarction reported typical symptoms of chest pain, and modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, most commonly tobacco use. Gynaecological status, history of pregnancy complications, and non-compliance with non-indication of combined contraception were overrepresented, emphasizing the urge for a better cardiological and gynaecological network. The overall prognosis for these women was better than previously reported despite the high rate of emergency consultations in the year following the index myocardial infarction, highlighting the need for more comprehensive follow-up following the myocardial infarction.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Other. Main funding source(s): French Society of CardiologyGrants from Indusctries Biosensors Europe SA, AstraZeneca, Boston Scientific Corporation, Abbott Medical Devices, Terumo Corporation, Daiichi Sankyo, Inc., Hexacath, France, Biotronik SE & Co. KG.

Sex-Specific Considerations in Degenerative Aortic Stenosis for Female-Tailored Transfemoral Aortic Valve Implantation Management

The impact of sex on pathophysiological processes, clinical presentation, treatment options, as well as outcomes of degenerative aortic stenosis remain poorly understood. Female patients are well represented in transfemoral aortic valve implantation (TAVI) trials and appear to derive favorable outcomes with TAVI. However, higher incidences of major bleeding, vascular complications, and stroke have been reported in women following TAVI. The anatomical characteristics and pathophysiological features of aortic stenosis in women might guide a tailored planning of the percutaneous approach. We highlight whether a sex-based TAVI management strategy might impact on clinical outcomes. This review aimed to evaluate the impact of sex from diagnosis to treatment of degenerative aortic stenosis, discussing the latest evidence on epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, therapeutic options, and outcomes. Furthermore, we focused on technical sex-oriented considerations in TAVI including the preprocedural screening, device selection, implantation strategy, and postprocedural management.

Apixaban and Valve Thrombosis After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: The ATLANTIS-4D-CT Randomized Clinical Trial Substudy

BACKGROUND

Subclinical obstructive valve thrombosis after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is of uncertain frequency and clinical impact.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of apixaban vs standard of care on post-TAVR valve thrombosis detected by 4-dimensional (4D) computed tomography.

METHODS

The randomized ATLANTIS (Anti-Thrombotic Strategy to Lower All Cardiovascular and Neurologic Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Events After Trans-Aortic Valve Implantation for Aortic Stenosis) trial demonstrated that apixaban 5 mg twice daily was not superior to standard of care (vitamin K antagonists or antiplatelet therapy) after successful TAVR and was associated with similar safety but with more noncardiovascular deaths. Three months after randomization, 4D computed tomography was proposed to all patients to determine the percentage of patients with ≥1 prosthetic valve leaflet with grade 3 or 4 reduced leaflet motion or grade 3 or 4 hypoattenuated leaflet thickening (the primary endpoint) in the intention-to-treat population.

RESULTS

Seven hundred sixty-two participants had complete multiphase datasets and were included in the 4D computed tomographic analysis. The primary endpoint occurred in 33 (8.9%) and 51 (13.0%) patients in the apixaban and standard-of-care groups, respectively. It was reduced with apixaban vs antiplatelet therapy (OR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.30-0.86) but not vs vitamin K antagonists (OR: 1.80; 95% CI: 0.62-5.25) (P_interaction = 0.037). The composite of death, myocardial infarction, any stroke, or systemic embolism at 1 year occurred in 10.7% (n = 9 of 84) and 7.1% (n = 48 of 178) of patients with and without subclinical valve thrombosis at 90 days, respectively (HR: 1.68; 95% CI: 0.82-3.44).

CONCLUSIONS

Apixaban reduced subclinical obstructive valve thrombosis in the majority of patients who underwent TAVR without having an established indication for anticoagulation. This study was not powered for clinical outcomes. (Anti-Thrombotic Strategy After Trans-Aortic Valve Implantation for Aortic Stenosis [ATLANTIS]; NCT02664649).

Rationale, Definitions, Techniques, and Outcomes of Commissural Alignment in TAVR: From the ALIGN-TAVR Consortium

Given the expanding indications of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in younger patients with longer life expectancies, the ability to perform postprocedural coronary access represents a priority in their lifetime management. A growing body of evidence suggests that commissural (and perhaps coronary) alignment in TAVR impacts coronary access and valve hemodynamics as well as coronary flow and access after redo-TAVR. Recent studies have provided modified delivery system insertion and rotation techniques to obtain commissural alignment with available transcatheter heart valve devices. Moreover, patient-specific preprocedural planning and postprocedural imaging tools have been developed to facilitate and evaluate commissural alignment. Future efforts should aim to refine transcatheter heart valve and delivery system designs to make neocommissural alignment easier and more reproducible. The aim of this review is to present an in-depth insight of commissural alignment in TAVR, including its rationale, standardized definitions, technical steps, outcomes, and future directions.

Impact of the Lubrizol factory fire in Rouen on coronary events: A retrospective study from the France PCI registry

BACKGROUND

On 26 September 2019, an industrial fire occurred in the Lubrizol factory in Rouen (France), exposing the population to the inhalation of many volatile toxic agents secondary to combustion.

AIM

To assess the impact of the Lubrizol factory fire on the incidence of coronary artery events.

METHODS

All coronary angiograms performed in Rouen (exposed) and Le Havre (unexposed) from May 2019 to December 2019 were extracted from the prospective France Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (France PCI) registry. To study the impact of the fire on coronary events, an interrupted time series analysis was performed in Rouen, with adjustment on Le Havre in an autoregressive moving average (ARMA)(1,1) model with the precision of 1 week. The primary outcome was the incidence of acute coronary syndrome, and the secondary outcome was the incidence of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

RESULTS

The mean number of acute coronary syndromes per week in the exposed zone (Rouen) increased non-significantly from 37.5±9.4 before the fire to 43.2±6.2 after the fire, for an estimated effect of +5.5 (95% confidence interval -0.7 to 11.8; P=0.09) events per week. In municipalities exposed to the plume of smoke (subgroup of Rouen), the mean number of acute coronary syndromes increased non-significantly from 7.3±2.8 before the fire to 8.7±3.6 after the fire, for an estimated effect of +1.0 (95% confidence interval -2.0 to 4.0; P=0.51) events per week. The results were similar when taking into account only ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions or all coronary events.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study did not find a significant effect of the Lubrizol factory fire on the incidence of acute coronary syndrome. Further studies are needed to investigate the impact of industrial accidents on air pollution and coronary events.

Safety, Efficacy and Long-Term Outcomes of Patients Treated with the Occlutech Paravalvular Leak Device for Significant Paravalvular Regurgitation

Between December 2014 and March 2021, 144 patients with aortic (Ao) or mitral (Mi) paravalvular leaks (PVLs) were enrolled at 21 sites in 10 countries. Safety data were available for 137 patients, who were included in the safety analysis fraction (SAF), 93 patients with Mi PVLs and 44 patients with Ao PVLs. The full analysis set (FAS) comprised 112 patients with available stratum (aortic/mitral leak) as well as baseline (BL), 180-day or later assessments (2 years). Procedural success (implantation of the device with a proper closure of the PVL, defined as reduction in paravalvular regurgitation of ≥one grade as assessed by echocardiography post implantation) was achieved in 91.3% of FAS patients with Mi PVLs and in 90.0% of those with Ao PVLs. The proportion of patients suffering from significant or severe heart failure (HF), classified as New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III/IV, decreased from 80% at baseline to 14.1% at 2-year follow-up (FAS). The proportion of FAS patients needing hemolysis-related blood transfusion decreased from 35.5% to 3.8% and from 8.1% to 0% in Mi patients and Ao patients, respectively. In total, 35 serious adverse events (SAEs) were reported in 27 patients (19.7%) of the SAF population. The SAEs considered possibly or probably related to the device included device embolization (three patients), residual leak (two patients) and vascular complication (one patient). During follow-up, 12/137 (8.8%) patients died, but none of the deaths was considered to be device-related. Patients implanted with the Occlutech Paravalvular Leak Device (PLD) showed long-lasting improvements in clinical parameters, including NYHA class and a reduced dependency on hemolysis-related blood transfusions.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of SAPIEN 3 Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation Procedure Compared With Surgery in Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis at Low Risk of Surgical Mortality in France

OBJECTIVES

The clinical and cost-saving benefits of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) over surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in patients with severe aortic stenosis who are at high or intermediate risk of surgical mortality are supported by a growing evidence base. The PARTNER 3 trial (Placement of AoRTic TraNscathetER Valve Trial) demonstrated clinical benefits with SAPIEN 3 TAVI compared with SAVR in selected patients at low risk of surgical mortality. This study uses PARTNER 3 outcomes in combination with a French national hospital claim database to inform a cost-utility model and examine the cost implications of TAVI over SAVR in a low-risk population.

METHODS

A 2-stage cost-utility analysis was developed to estimate changes in both direct healthcare costs and health-related quality of life using TAVI with SAPIEN 3 compared with SAVR. Early adverse events associated with TAVI were captured using the PARTNER 3 data set. These data fed into a Markov model that captured longer-term outcomes of patients, after TAVI or SAVR intervention.

RESULTS

TAVI with SAPIEN 3 offers meaningful benefits over SAVR in providing both cost saving (€12 742 per patient) and generating greater quality-adjusted life-years (0.89 per patient). These results are robust with TAVI with SAPIEN 3 remaining dominant across several scenarios and deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

This model demonstrated that TAVI with SAPIEN 3 was dominant compared with SAVR in the treatment of patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis who are at low risk of surgical mortality. These findings should help policy makers in developing informed approaches to intervention selection for this patient population.

Incidence, Predictive Factors, and Prognostic Impact of Right Ventricular Dysfunction Before Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

Right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) is considered to be a late marker of aortic stenosis. However, there is a lack of consensus regarding the incidence, prognostic impact, and evolution of RVD in patients treated with transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). All patients treated with TAVI for severe aortic stenosis were included in a prospective single-center database. Patients who had a quantitative assessment of right ventricular (RV) function including tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and/or Doppler tissue imaging-derived tricuspid lateral annular systolic velocity (S' wave) measurements were eligible for this study. RVD was defined as TAPSE <17 mm or S' <9.5 cm/s if TAPSE was not available. Between 2014 and 2019, 503 patients with RV function assessment were included. The incidence of RVD before TAVI was 18.7%. Predictors of RVD were diabetes (p = 0.03), atrial fibrillation (p = 0.001), impaired left ventricular ejection fraction (p <0.0001), left ventricular dilatation (p = 0.007), and previous cardiac surgery (p = 0.002). Long-term survival was worse in patients with RVD before TAVI compared with those without RVD (hazard ratio 1.97, 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 3.4, p = 0.01). One year after TAVI, 58.7% of patients with baseline RVD had normal RV function and had similar outcomes as compared with those without RVD at baseline. In contrast, patients with persistent RVD had the worst prognosis. In conclusion, RVD is not rare and has a deleterious prognostic impact in patients treated with TAVI. Recovery of normal RV function is frequent after TAVI, whereas persistence of RVD is associated with poor outcomes.

Right ventricular dysfunction before transcatheter aortic valve implantation: incidence, predictive factors and prognostic impact

Background

Right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) is considered to be a late marker of advanced aortic stenosis (AS) and is associated with poor prognosis. Currently. there are conflicting data on the impact of RVD on clinical outcomes in patients with severe AS treated with TAVI. Moreover, few studies have studied the evolution (recovery or persistence) of RVD and its prognostic impact.

Objectives

To assess the incidence and predictive factors of RVD before TAVI, its prognostic impact and its evolution after TAVI.

Methods

All patients treated with TAVI for severe AS were included in a prospective single center database. Only patients who had a quantitative assessment of RV including Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion (TAPSE) and/or doppler tissue imaging-derived tricuspid lateral annular systolic velocity (S') measurements, were eligible to this study. RVD was defined by a TAPSE &lt;17 mm or S' &lt;9.5 cm/s if TAPSE was not available.

Results

Between May 2014 and April 2019, 503 patients with RV function evaluation were included. Incidence of RVD before TAVI was 18.7%. Predictors of RVD were diabetes (P=0.03), atrial fibrillation (P=0.001), altered left ventricular ejection fraction (P&lt;0.0001), left ventricular dilatation (P=0.007), and previous cardiac surgery (P=0.002). Long-term survival was altered in patients with RVD before TAVI as compared to those without RVD (HR 1.97, 95% CI: 1.1–3.4, P=0.01). One year after TAVI, 58.7% of patients with baseline RVD had a normal RV function and had similar outcome as compared to those without RVD at baseline. In contrast, patients with persistent RVD had the worst prognosis.

Conclusions

RVD is not rare and has a deleterious prognostic impact in patients treated by TAVI. Recovery of normal RV function is frequent after TAVI whereas persistence of RVD is associated with poor outcomes.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Current treatment of symptomatic aortic stenosis in elderly patients: Do risk scores really matter after 80 years of age?

BACKGROUND

According to the guidelines, surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) is recommended in patients at low surgical risk (EuroSCORE II<4%), whereas for other patients, the decision between transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and surgery should be made by the Heart Team, with TAVI being favoured in elderly patients.

AIM

The RAC prospective multicentre survey assessed the respective contributions of age and surgical risk scores in therapeutic decision making in elderly patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis.

METHODS

In September and October 2016, 1049 consecutive patients aged ≥ 75 years were included in 32 centres with on-site TAVI and surgical facilities. The primary endpoint was the decision between medical management, TAVI or SAVR.

RESULTS

Mean age was 84±5 years and 53% of patients were female. The surgical risk was classified as high (EuroSCORE II>8%) in 18% of patients, intermediate (EuroSCORE II 4-8%) in 34% and low (EuroSCORE II≤4%) in 48%. TAVI was preferred in 71% of patients, SAVR in 19% and medical treatment in 10%. The choice of TAVI over SAVR was associated with older age (P<0.0001) and a higher EuroSCORE II (P=0.008). However, the weight of EuroSCORE II in therapeutic decision making markedly decreased after the age of 80 years. Indeed, 77% of patients aged ≥ 80 years were referred for TAVI, despite a low estimated surgical risk.

CONCLUSIONS

The impact of risk scores depends strongly on age, and decreases considerably after 80 years, most patients being referred for TAVI, independent of their estimated surgical risk. Despite medical advancements, 10% of patients were still denied any intervention.

ACTIVATION (PercutAneous Coronary inTervention prIor to transcatheter aortic VAlve implantaTION): A Randomized Clinical Trial

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to determine if percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) prior to transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in patients with significant coronary artery disease would produce noninferior clinical results when compared with no PCI (control arm).

BACKGROUND

PCI in patients undergoing TAVR is not without risk, and there are no randomized data to inform clinical practice.

METHODS

Patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis and significant coronary artery disease with Canadian Cardiovascular Society class ≤2 angina were randomly assigned to receive PCI or no PCI prior to TAVR. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause death or rehospitalization at 1 year. Noninferiority testing (prespecified margin of 7.5%) was performed in the intention-to-treat population.

RESULTS

At 17 centers, 235 patients underwent randomization. At 1 year, the primary composite endpoint occurred in 48 (41.5%) of the PCI arm and 47 (44.0%) of the no-PCI arm. The requirement for noninferiority was not met (difference: -2.5%; 1-sided upper 95% confidence limit: 8.5%; 1-sided noninferiority test P = 0.067). On analysis of the as-treated population, the difference was -3.7% (1-sided upper 95% confidence limit: 7.5%; P = 0.050). Mortality was 16 (13.4%) in the PCI arm and 14 (12.1%) in the no-PCI arm. At 1 year, there was no evidence of a difference in the rates of stroke, myocardial infarction, or acute kidney injury, with higher rates of any bleed in the PCI arm (P = 0.021).

CONCLUSIONS

Observed rates of death and rehospitalization at 1 year were similar between PCI and no PCI prior to TAVR; however, the noninferiority margin was not met, and PCI resulted in a higher incidence of bleeding. (Assessing the Effects of Stenting in Significant Coronary Artery Disease Prior to Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation; ISRCTN75836930).

TAVR Patients Requiring Anticoagulation: Direct Oral Anticoagulant or Vitamin K Antagonist?

OBJECTIVES

Using French transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) registries linked with the nationwide administrative databases, the study compared the rates of long-term mortality, bleeding, and ischemic events after TAVR in patients requiring oral anticoagulation with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) or vitamin K antagonists (VKAs).

BACKGROUND

The choice of optimal drug for anticoagulation after TAVR remains debated.

METHODS

Data from the France-TAVI and FRANCE-2 registries were linked to the French national health single-payer claims database, from 2010 to 2017. Propensity score matching was used to reduce treatment-selection bias. Two primary endpoints were death from any cause (efficacy) and major bleeding (safety).

RESULTS

A total of 24,581 patients who underwent TAVR were included and 8,962 (36.4%) were treated with OAC. Among anticoagulated patients, 2,180 (24.3%) were on DOACs. After propensity matching, at 3 years, mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.37; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12-1.67; P < 0.005) and major bleeding including hemorrhagic stroke (HR: 1.64; 95% CI: 1.17-2.29; P < 0.005) were lower in patients on DOACs compared with those on VKAs. The rates of ischemic stroke (HR: 1.32; 95% CI: 0.81-2.15; P = 0.27) and acute coronary syndrome (HR: 1.17; 95% CI: 0.68-1.99; P = 0.57) did not differ among groups.

CONCLUSIONS

In these large multicenter French TAVR registries with an exhaustive clinical follow-up, the long-term mortality and major bleeding were lower with DOACs than VKAs at discharge. The present study supports preferential use of DOACs rather than VKAs in patients requiring oral anticoagulation therapy after TAVR.

ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

BACKGROUND

Among patients with acute coronary syndrome following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), those presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are at highest risk.

OBJECTIVES

The goal of this study was to determine the clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes of STEMI after TAVR.

METHODS

This was a multicenter study including 118 patients presenting with STEMI at a median of 255 days (interquartile range: 9 to 680 days) after TAVR. Procedural features of STEMI after TAVR managed with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were compared with all-comer STEMI: 439 non-TAVR patients who had primary PCI within the 2 weeks before and after each post-TAVR STEMI case in 5 participating centers from different countries.

RESULTS

Median door-to-balloon time was higher in TAVR patients (40 min [interquartile range: 25 to 57 min] vs. 30 min [interquartile range: 25 to 35 min]; p = 0.003). Procedural time, fluoroscopy time, dose-area product, and contrast volume were also higher in TAVR patients (p < 0.01 for all). PCI failure occurred more frequently in patients with previous TAVR (16.5% vs. 3.9%; p < 0.001), including 5 patients in whom the culprit lesion was not revascularized owing to coronary ostia cannulation failure. In-hospital and late (median of 7 months [interquartile range: 1 to 21 months]) mortality rates were 25.4% and 42.4%, respectively (20.6% and 38.2% in primary PCI patients), and estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 ml/min (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.02; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.42 to 6.43; p = 0.004), Killip class ≥2 (HR: 2.74; 95% CI: 1.37 to 5.49; p = 0.004), and PCI failure (HR: 3.23; 95% CI: 1.42 to 7.31; p = 0.005) determined an increased risk.

CONCLUSIONS

STEMI after TAVR was associated with very high in-hospital and mid-term mortality. Longer door-to-balloon times and a higher PCI failure rate were observed in TAVR patients, partially due to coronary access issues specific to the TAVR population, and this was associated with poorer outcomes.