The Journal of Latin American Geriatric Medicine · Aug 19, 2026
Cognitive changes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation versus surgical aortic valve replacement in older adults
By Gómez-García JA, Reyes-Salcedo I, Bustillos-Cuevas MA et al.
Background: Cognitive impairment affects approximately 50 million people worldwide, including 5-8% of adults aged over 60 years.This condition is common in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS).Although both transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) improve the quality of life, evidence on post-treatment cognitive recovery remains limited.Objective: The objective of the study is to analyze differences in cognitive status among older adults with severe AS undergoing TAVI or SAVR 3 months after intervention.Material and methods: An observational, retrospective cohort study was conducted including patients ≥ 70 years of age with severe AS treated with TAVI or SAVR (2023-2024).Comprehensive geriatric assessment and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores were obtained from medical records and reassessed after 3 months.Statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 25.Results: A total of 103 patients were included (70 SAVR and 33 TAVI).Sex distribution was similar (p = 0.592).Patients who underwent TAVI were older (80.6 ± 6.2 vs. 74.8± 3.2 years; p < 0.001) and more frequently frail (48.5 vs. 25.7%;p = 0.022) or had suspected sarcopenia (57.6 vs. 35.7%;p = 0.036).No significant differences were observed in the MMSE scores between the groups.Conclusions: Despite the greater age, frailty, and sarcopenia in the TAVI group, cognitive trajectories at 3 months did not significantly differ from those in SAVR patients.