Clinical implication of the Naples prognostic score on transcatheter aortic valve replacement in patients with severe aortic stenosis

BACKGROUND

One of the hallmarks of frailty in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) is malnutrition, for which one of the most up-to-date scoring systems is the Naples prognostic score (NPS). This study sought to investigate the predictive role of the NPS in determining mortality in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) under long-term follow-up.

METHODS

A total of 430 consecutive patients with symptomatic severe AS who underwent TAVR were included retrospectively. The primary endpoint of the study was the long-term all-cause mortality. The study population was divided into two groups according to the NPS value, including Group 1 (NPS 0-2) and Group 2 (NPS 3-4).

RESULTS

The all-cause mortality occurred in 250 patients (62.5%) patients during a follow-up time of 40.6 (22.0-69.4) months. During the follow-up period, all-cause mortality was higher in Group 2 compared with Group 1 (87.9% vs. 42.9%, p < 0.001). Older age (p < 0.001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (p = 0.015), left ventricular ejection fraction (p = 0.021), and being in Group 2 (high NPS) (hazard ratio: 7.058, 95% confidence interval: 5.174-9.629, p < 0.001) were found to be independent predictors of all-cause mortality at long-term follow-up.

CONCLUSION

The NPS as a malnutrition and inflammation marker in patients with severe aortic stenosis who underwent TAVR provides valuable information for all-cause mortality under long-term follow-up.

Risk factors for pelvic surgery

One hundred and eighty four women who had corrective surgery for stress incontinence, genital prolapse or both were compared with two hundred and ninety women who had no surgery for these conditions. Patients and controls did not differ in terms of age, height, weight or body mass index. Younger age at first delivery (20.1+/-4.1 vs 22.8+/-4.9, p<0.000) and a smoking history (33.2% vs 23%, p<0.015) were found as risk factors for the study group. Women who underwent surgery had greater gravidity (4.85+/-2.9 vs 3.87+/-2.5, p<0.001), greater parity (3.03+/-1.9 vs 2.19+/-1.3, p<0.000), were less often nulliparous (2.2% vs 7.9%, p<0.008), less likely to have had a cesarean delivery (1.1% vs 9%, p<0.001) and more likely to have had a vaginal delivery (97.3% vs 85.9%, p<0.000) than the control group. The study group have had larger neonates on average (3800+/-416 vs 3373+/-637 gm's, p<0.000) and had greater use of forceps or vacuum extractor for at least one delivery (17.9% vs 7.6%, p<0.001). Highly significant relationship was found between the risk of having corrective surgery and the number of children born vaginally. Women who had 4 or more vaginal deliveries had 11.7 times more risk of urinary incontinence or genital prolapse.

Stress hormones and acid-base status in human fetuses at term delivery: the effect of delivery method

To evaluate the effect of delivery mode on fetal stress hormones and acid-base status and also to investigate the relationship between fetal acidemia and these hormones. 64 women with term pregnancies were studied. All had singleton, healthy pregnancies. Twenty one women were delivered by spontaneous vaginal route, 23 by vaginal route following oxytocin infusion and 20 by elective caesarean section. Umbilical cord blood samples were obtained immediately following the delivery. Blood gas (pH, pCO2, pO2) and hormonal analysis (Cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, prolactin, androstenedione) were done in arterial and venous cord blood samples respectively. Higher pO2 and prolactin, lower pH levels were found in caesarean section compared to other two groups (p < 0.05). At the time of delivery 11 infants had acidemia (pH < 7.20) as judged by pH of umbilical arterial blood. Acidemic group had higher cortisol and pCO2; lower pH and pO2 levels compared to non-acidemic group (p < 0.05). Method of delivery may affect acid-base and hormonal status of human fetus. Fetal acidemia may alter fetal adrenal steroidogenesis leading to increased fetal cortisol production.

[Does the incidence of premature labor vary according to the season?]

To investigate the epidemiology of premature delivery, in particular regarding potential seasonal influences, a retrospective medical-record study was conducted in 3345 women who delivered prematurely over a six-year period (1988-1993). The control group was composed of 53,162 women who carried their pregnancies to term. Each study subject had delivered at least one liveborn baby, prematurely or at full term. The premature delivery rate (ratio of premature over term deliveries) was highest in May through July and decreased significantly in January and February (p < 0.05). Premature delivery rates were similar in primiparas and multiparas (p > 0.05) and were not influenced by the gender of the fetus (p > 0.05). In conclusion, premature delivery rates vary across seasons, suggesting an influence of weather conditions.