Propensity matched comparison of TAVI and SAVR in intermediate-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis and moderate-to-severe chronic kidney disease: a subgroup analysis from the German Aortic Valve Registry

Clin Res Cardiol. 2022 Dec;111(12):1387-1395. doi: 10.1007/s00392-022-02083-2. Epub 2022 Sep 8.

Abstract

Objective: We compared TAVI vs. SAVR in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic kidney disease (eGFR 15-60 ml/min/1.73 m2) for whom both procedures could possibly be considered (age ≤ 80 years, STS-score 4-8).

Background: According to both ACC/AHA and ESC/EACTS recent guidelines, aortic stenosis may be treated with either transcatheter (TAVI) or surgical (SAVR) aortic valve replacement in a subgroup of patients. A shared therapeutic decision is made by a heart team based on individual factors, including chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: Data from the large nationwide German Aortic Valve Registry were used. A propensity score method was used to select 704 TAVI and 374 SAVR matched patients. Primary endpoint was 1-year survival. Secondary endpoints were clinical complications, including pacemaker implantation, vascular complications, myocardial infarction, bleeding, and the need for new-onset dialysis.

Results: One-year survival was similar (HR [95% CI] for TAVI 1.271 [0.795, 2.031], p = 0.316), with no divergence in Kaplan-Meier curves. In spite of post-procedural short-term survival being numerically higher for TAVI patients and 1-year survival being numerically higher for SAVR patients, such differences did not reach statistical significance (96.4% vs. 94.2%, p = 0.199, and 86.2% vs. 81.2%, p = 0.316, respectively). In weighted analyses, pacemaker implantation, vascular complications, and were significantly more common with TAVI; whereas myocardial infarction, bleeding requiring transfusion, and longer ICU-stay and overall hospitalization were higher with SAVR. Temporary dialysis was more common with SAVR (p < 0.0001); however, a probable need for chronic dialysis was rare and similar in both groups.

Conclusion: Both TAVI and SAVR led to comparable and excellent results in patients with moderate-to-severe CKD in an intermediate-risk population of patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis for whom both therapies could possibly be considered.

Keywords: Aortic stenosis; Chronic kidney disease; Mortality; Surgical aortic valve replacement; Transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aortic Valve / surgery
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis* / diagnosis
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis* / surgery
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation* / methods
  • Humans
  • Myocardial Infarction* / etiology
  • Registries
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic* / complications
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic* / diagnosis
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic* / epidemiology
  • Risk Factors
  • Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement* / adverse effects
  • Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement* / methods
  • Treatment Outcome