Cardiac damage in a real-world severe aortic stenosis population

Abstract Introduction The cardiac consequences of aortic stenosis, besides left ventricular ejection fraction and systolic pulmonary artery pressure, aren't considered in the recommendations for surgical intervention in patients (pts) with severe aortic stenosis (SAS). In 2017, a new staging echo classification was presented to accurately describe them. Purpose To evaluate this new echo classification in risk stratification of pts with SAS with or without AVR, in a real–world setting. Methods Retrospective cohort study of pts with SAS (mean transvalvular pressure gradient (MG) ≥40 mmHg or a peak transvalvular velocity (PTV) ≥4.0 m/s), examined between January 2014 and December 2016. Pts were classified according to the new staging echo classification (no extravalvular cardiac damage - Stage 0, left ventricular damage - Stage 1, left atrial or mitral valve damage - Stage 2, pulmonary vasculature or tricuspid valve damage - Stage 3, or right ventricular damage - Stage 4). Follow-up (FU) was 2.6±1.0 years. The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalization. Results 212 pts with SAS were included (age 76.1±9.1 years, 31.6% men; aortic valve area 0.69±0.21cm2; PTV 4.5±0.4m/s; MG 48.5±11.6mmHg; LVEF 58.8±12.2%). 19 (9.0%) pts were classified as Stage 0, 29 (13.7%) as Stage 1, 129 (60.8%) as Stage 2, 12 (5.7%) as Stage 3 and 23 (10.8%) as Stage 4. Pts with more advanced stages had more events (stage 0: 5.3%; stage 1: 10.3%; stage 2: 17.1%; stage 3: 50.0%; stage 4: 52.2%; p<0.0001). In the multivariate analysis, the classification system was also a predictor of the outcome, even when including the AVR in the model (table 1). Similar findings in the uni and multivariate analysis were identified when analyzing only the pts with SAS and no aortic intervention (events in stage 0: 16.7%; stage 1: 18.2%; stage 2: 29.3%; stage 3: 75.0%; stage 4: 64.7%, p<0.005; Figure 1). Table 1. Predictors of the outcome Variables Adjusted HR (95% CI) p-value Sex* 1.86 (1.01–3.44) 0.047 eGFR* 0.99 (0.98–1.01) 0.201 AVR* 8.97 (3.85–20.90) 0.0001 Classification* – 0.031 Stage 0 0.19 (0.02–1.537) 0.120 Stage 1 0.28 (0.08–1.01) 0.052 Stage 2 0.36 (0.17–0.74) 0,006 Stage 3 0.81 (0.30–2.19) 0.675 Stage 4 1 – *Variables with p<0.05 in univariate analysis. Figure 1. Survival of SAS pts with no AVR Conclusion In a real-world experience, the new staging echo classification showed a significant relationship between the extent of cardiac damage at baseline and the primary outcome in pts with SAS, even after controlling for AVR. This classification was also able to identify the SAS pts who did not perform AVR and had a significant risk of adverse events.