title: Short- and intermediate-term improvement of patient quality of life after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a single-centre study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a treatment option for elderly high-risk patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis. Improvement of quality of life (QoL) is a relevant issue in this group of patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess changes in QoL after TAVI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty patients who underwent TAVI in our institution were included in this QoL study. All subjects were screened for TAVI in a standard fashion, including QoL assessment with the EQoL (EQ-5D-3L). The pre- and postprocedural scores obtained up to a 12-month follow-up were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median of logistic EuroScore I was 21.5% (13.5-26.75%), and Society of Thoracic Surgeons score was 5.5% (4.0-10.75%). Comparison of baseline values with follow-up data at one, six and 12 months after TAVI showed significant improvement of QoL (p < 0.001). Visual Analogue Scale score (VAS score) was assessed. There was an incremental increase in VAS score during follow-up (p < 0.001). Median of six-minute walk test distance at baseline was 200 m (IQR 150-300) and 325 m (IQR 250-400) 12 months after TAVI (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TAVI provides improved QoL and effectively relieves symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiology, Krakow, Poland. kleczu@interia.pl.
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kleczyński
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bagieński
authors.forename: Danuta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sorysz
authors.forename: Lukasz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rzeszutko
authors.forename: Jarosław
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Trębacz
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomala
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sobczyński
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dziewierz
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Surdacki
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dudek
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D065467:Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome