Pislaru, Sorin V.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) in severe aortic stenosis (AS) is associated with worse outcomes compared to sinus rhythm (SR). The prevalence of AF and its impact on outcomes in very severe AS (vsAS) is unknown. Objectives: To determine the prevalence and prognostic significance of AF in vsAS. Methods: A total of 563 patients with vsAS (transaortic valve peak velocity ≥5 m/sec) were identified retrospectively out of 3139 with aortic valve area ≤1.0 cm 2 or ≤0.6 cm 2 /m 2 and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥50%. Patients were divided by rhythm (AF vs SR) at the time of index transthoracic echocardiogram. Outcomes in AF versus SR were compared in propensity-matched analyses (2 SR:1 AF). Results: AF was present in 50/563 patients (9%) and SR in 513/563 (91%). In propensity-matched analyses (100 SR:50 AF), the mean age was 83.2±7.3 years, 54% were female. There was no difference in comorbidity index (p=0.84). There was no difference in AF compared to SR in aortic valve area (0.7±0.1 vs 0.7±0.1 cm 2 , p=0.94), peak velocity (5.3±0.3 vs 5.3±0.3 m/sec, p=0.32), LVEF (63±7 vs 65±7%, p=0.14) or E/e’ (23±13 vs 21±12, p=0.48), but patients with AF had larger left atrial volume index (60±16 vs 48±15 mL/m 2 , p<0.001), higher right ventricular systolic pressure (52±15 vs 41±16 mmHg, p<0.001), and higher prevalence of moderate or more tricuspid regurgitation (33% vs 5%, p<0.001) and right ventricular systolic dysfunction (23% vs 6%, p=0.003). Age-, sex-, comorbidity index-adjusted all-cause mortality was higher in AF vs SR (HR 2.33 [1.40, 3.87], p=0.001) ( Figure: Observed overall survival ). Aortic valve replacement (AVR) was associated with improved survival (HR 0.44 [0.25, 0.76], p=0.004) with no evidence of interaction of AVR and rhythm (p=0.15). Conclusion: AF was not uncommon among patients with vsAS and identified a subset of patients with vsAS at much higher risk of mortality. Whether AVR should be considered earlier in vsAS when associated with AF needs to be investigated.

Abstract Aims Tricuspid valve regurgitation (TR) is a common valvular disease associated with increased mortality. There is a need for tools to assess the interaction between the pulmonary artery (PA) circulation and the right ventricle in patients with TR and to investigate their association with outcomes. The pulmonary artery pulsatility index (PAPi) has emerged as a haemodynamic risk predictor in left heart disease and pulmonary hypertension (PH). Whether PAPi discriminates risk in unselected patients with greater than or equal to moderate TR is unknown. Methods and results In 5079 patients with greater than or equal to moderate TR (regardless of aetiology) and PA systolic and diastolic pressures measured on their first echocardiogram, we compared all-cause mortality at 5 years based on the presence or absence of PH and PAPi levels. A total of 2741 (54%) patients had PH. The median PAPi was 3.0 (IQR 1.9, 4.4). Both the presence of PH and decreasing levels of PAPi were associated with larger right ventricles, worse right ventricular systolic function, higher NT-pro BNP levels, greater degrees of right heart failure, and worse survival. In a subset of patients who had an echo and right heart catheterization within 24 h, the correlation of non-invasive to invasive PA pressures and PAPi levels was very good (r = 0.76). Conclusion In patients with greater than or equal to moderate TR with and without PH, lower PAPi is associated with right ventricular dysfunction, right heart failure, and worse survival. Incorporating PA pressure and PAPi may help stratify disease severity in patients with greater than or equal to moderate TR regardless of aetiology.

Background Description of cerebral and retinal infarction in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is limited to case reports. We aimed to characterize cerebral and retinal infarction and examine outcomes in patients with BAV. Methods and Results Consecutive patients from 1975 to 2015 with BAV (n=5401) were retrospectively identified from the institutional database; those with confirmed cerebral or retinal infarction were analyzed. Infarction occurring after aortic valve replacement was not included. Patients were grouped according to infarction pathogenesis: embolism from a degenerative calcific BAV (BAVi); non‐BAV, large artery atherosclerotic or lacunar infarction (LAi); and non‐BAV, non‐large artery embolic infarction (nLAi). There were 83/5401 (1.5%) patients, mean age 54±12 years and 28% female, with confirmed cerebral or retinal infarction (LAi 23/83 [28%]; nLAi 30/83 [36%]; BAVi 26/83 [31%]; other 4/83 [5%]). Infarction was embolic in 72/83 (87%), and 35/72 (49%) were cardioembolic. CHA 2 DS 2 ‐VASc score was 1.4±1.2 in BAVi ( P =0.188 versus nLAi) and 2.3±1.2 in LAi ( P =0.005). Recurrent infarction occurred in 41% overall (50% BAVi, P =0.164 and 0.803 versus LAi and nLAi). BAVi was more commonly retinal (39% BAVi versus 13% LAi, P =0.044 versus 0% nLAi, P =0.002). Patients with BAVi and LAi were more likely to have moderate‐to‐severe aortic stenosis and undergo aortic valve replacement compared with patients with nLAi. Conclusions Cardioembolism, often from degenerative calcification of the aortic valve, is a predominant cause of cerebral and retinal infarction in patients with BAV and is frequently recurrent. Cerebral and retinal infarction should be regarded as a complication of BAV.

Abstract Aims The current guidelines recommend aortic valve intervention in patients with severe aortic regurgitation (AR) with the onset of symptoms, left ventricular enlargement, or systolic dysfunction. Recent studies have suggested that we might be missing the window of early intervention in a significant number of patients by following the guidelines. Methods and results The overarching goal was to determine if machine learning (ML)-based algorithms could be trained to identify patients at risk for death from AR independent of aortic valve replacement (AVR). Models were trained with five-fold cross-validation on a dataset of 1035 patients, and performance was reported on an independent dataset of 207 patients. Optimal predictive performance was observed with a conditional random survival forest model. A subset of 19/41 variables was selected for inclusion in the final model. Variable selection was performed with 10-fold cross-validation using random survival forest model. The top variables included were age, body surface area, body mass index, diastolic blood pressure, New York Heart Association class, AVR, comorbidities, ejection fraction, end-diastolic volume, and end-systolic dimension, and the relative variable importance averaged across five splits of cross-validation in each repeat were evaluated. The concordance index for predicting survival of the best-performing model was 0.84 at 1 year, 0.86 at 2 years, and 0.87 overall, respectively. Conclusion Using common echocardiographic parameters and patient characteristics, we successfully trained multiple ML models to predict survival in patients with severe AR. This technique could be applied to identify high-risk patients who would benefit from early intervention, thereby improving patient outcomes.

Abstract OBJECTIVES Low forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and elevated N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-Pro-BNP) have been individually associated with poor outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). We hypothesized a combination of the 2 would provide prognostic indication after TAVR. METHODS We categorized 871 patients who received TAVR from 2008 to 2018 into 4 groups according to baseline FEV1 (&lt;60% or ≥60% predicted) and NT-Pro-BNP (&lt;1601 or ≥1601 pg/ml): group A (n = 312, high FEV1, low NT-Pro-BNP), group B (n = 275, high FEV1, high NT-Pro-BNP), group C (n = 123 low FEV1, low NT-Pro-BNP) and group D (n = 161, low FEV1, high NT-Pro-BNP). The primary end point was survival at 1 and 5 years. RESULTS Patients in group A had more severe aortic stenosis and achieved the best long-term survival at 1 [93% (95% CI: 90–96)] and 5 [45.3% (95% CI: 35.4–58)] years. Low FEV1 and high NT-Pro-BNP (group D) patients had more severe symptoms, higher Society of Thoracic Surgeons predicted risk of operative mortality, lower ejection fraction and aortic valve gradient at baseline. Patients in group D had the worst survival at 1 [76% (95% CI: 69–83)] and 5 years [13.1% (95% CI: 7–25)], hazard ratio compared to group A: 2.29 (95% CI: 1.6–3.2, P &lt; 0.001) with 25.7% of patients in New York Heart Association class III–IV. Patients in groups B and C had intermediate outcomes. CONCLUSIONS The combination of FEV1 and NT-Pro-BNP stratifies patients into 4 groups with distinct risk profiles and clinical outcomes. Patients with low FEV1 and high NT-Pro-BNP have increased comorbidities, poor functional outcomes and decreased long-term survival after TAVR.

This review discusses recent advancements in the field of valvular heart disease. Topics covered include recognition of the impact of atrial fibrillation on development and assessment of valvular disease, strategies for global prevention of rheumatic heart disease, understanding and management of secondary mitral regurgitation, the updated classification of bicuspid aortic valve disease, recognition of heightened cardiovascular risk associated with moderate aortic stenosis, and a growing armamentarium of transcatheter therapies.

Abstract Aims Aortic stenosis (AS) induces characteristic changes in left ventricular (LV) mechanics that can be reversed after aortic valve replacement (AVR). We aimed to comprehensively characterize LV mechanics before and after AVR in patients with severe AS and identify predictors of short-term functional recovery and long-term survival. Methods and results We prospectively performed comprehensive strain analysis by 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography in 88 patients with severe AS and LV ejection fraction ≥50% (mean age 71 ± 12 years, 42% female) prior to and within 7 days after AVR. Patients were followed for up to 5.2 years until death from any cause or last encounter. Within days after AVR, we observed an absolute increase in global longitudinal strain (GLS) (−16.0 ± 2.0% vs. −18.5 ± 2.1%, P&lt;0.0001) and a decrease in apical rotation (10.5 ± 4.0° vs. 8.3 ± 2.8°, P = 0.0002) and peak systolic twist (18.2 ± 5.0° vs. 15.5 ± 3.8°, P = 0.0008). A baseline GLS is less negative than −16.2% was 90% sensitive and 67% specific in predicting a ≥ 20% relative increase in GLS. During a median follow-up of 3.8 years, a global circumferential systolic strain rate (GCSRs) less negative than −1.9% independently predicted lower survival. Conclusion In patients with severe AS, a reversal in GLS, apical rotation, and peak systolic twist abnormalities towards normal occurs within days of AVR. Baseline GLS is the strongest predictor of GLS recovery but neither was associated with long-term survival. In contrast, abnormal baseline GCSRs are associated with worse outcomes.