Survival after valve replacement fell short of Swiss norms
Among 13,651 patients, average survival within 10 years was 1.58 years shorter than expected for the Swiss population matched for age, sex and calendar year.
Limit: The study included only successful procedures, leaving out patients whose valve replacements failed
Edited by Boris Djordjevic · AgingResearch.News
The observational study followed 13,651 people with severe narrowing of their original aortic valve who underwent successful catheter-based valve replacement through an artery in the groin. Their median age was 82 years, and 46.2% were women. The nationwide Swiss registry enrolled patients from February 2011 through December 2023. Researchers compared their survival with expected survival in Switzerland, matching age, sex and calendar year.
The average shortfall was 0.37 years within five years, 1.05 years within eight years and 1.58 years within 10 years. Younger patients had the largest shortfalls. Higher surgical risk, other illnesses and signs of heart damage beyond the valve were associated with larger shortfalls.
Why it matters
For older adults with severe aortic valve narrowing, the study addresses how long-term survival after a successful procedure compares with the survival expected at their age.
Caveats
This observational comparison with the general population cannot isolate the procedure’s effect on survival. The congress abstract covers only successful procedures and estimates survival within specified follow-up periods, not total remaining lifespan.
