Aortic valve replacement and concomitant mitral valve regurgitation in the elderly: impact on survival and functional outcome.
BACKGROUND
The impact of mitral regurgitation (MR) on elderly patients (> or = 70 years) undergoing isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR) is not clearly defined. This study investigates the long-term effects of preoperative, moderate MR on survival and functional outcome in elderly AVR patients.


RESULTS
A retrospective review identified 408 consecutive elderly patients who underwent isolated AVR from January 1983 to February 2004. The pathologic etiology of MR was determined on preoperative echocardiogram, and patients were stratified into no/mild MR (Group I; n = 338) versus moderate MR (Group II; n = 70). Follow-up was 95.1% complete. Functional outcome was evaluated using the Short Form-12 questionnaire. On univariate analysis, Groups I and II differed in incidence of previous myocardial infarction (13.9% versus 28.6%; P = 0.004), hyperlipidemia (18.7% versus 33.3%; P = 0.009), and congestive heart failure (50.0% versus 70.0%; P = 0.002). On multivariate analysis, moderate MR was an independent risk factor impacting long-term survival (P = 0.04). Actuarial survival at 1, 5, and 10 years for Group I was 93.8%, 73.3%, and 40.1% versus 92.3%, 58.2%, and 14.6% for Group II (P = 0.04). Available postoperative echocardiograms for Group II (n = 37) demonstrated improvement in MR in 81.8% of functional MR patients. However, MR persisted or worsened in 65.4% of patients with intrinsic mitral valve disease (myxomatous, calcific, or ischemic MR). Functional outcomes showed 77% of Group I versus 78.6% of Group II rated their health as good to excellent post-AVR.


CONCLUSIONS
Moderate MR is an independent risk factor impacting long-term survival in elderly patients undergoing AVR. Therefore, patients with intrinsic mitral valve disease should be considered for concomitant MV surgery.
Barreiro
Christopher J
CJ
Division of Cardiac Surgery, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institution, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
Patel
Nishant D
ND
Fitton
Torin P
TP
Williams
Jason A
JA
Bonde
Pramod N
PN
Chan
Vincent
V
Alejo
Diane E
DE
Gott
Vincent L
VL
Baumgartner
William A
WA
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000453:epidemiology; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D015993:Life Tables; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome