Consequence of cerebral embolism after transcatheter aortic valve implantation compared with contemporary surgical aortic valve replacement: effect on health-related quality of life.
BACKGROUND
Incidence of cerebral microinfarcts is higher after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) compared with surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). It is unknown whether these lesions persist and what direct impact they have on health-related quality of life. The objective was to identify predictors of cerebral microinfarction and measure their effect on health-related quality of life during 6 months after TAVI when compared with SAVR.


RESULTS
Cerebral MRI was conducted at baseline, post procedure, and 6 months using diffusion-weighted imaging. Health-related quality of life was measured at baseline, 30 days, and 6 months with short form-12 health outcomes and EuroQol 5 dimensions questionnaires. One hundred eleven patients (TAVI, n=71; SAVR, n=40) were studied. The incidence (54 [77%] versus 17 [43%]; P=0.001) and number (3.4±4.9 versus 1.2±1.8; P=0.001) of new microinfarcts were greater after TAVI than after SAVR. The total volume per microinfarct was smaller in TAVI than in SAVR (0.23±0.24 versus 0.76±1.8 mL; P=0.04). The strongest associations for microinfarction were: TAVI (arch atheroma grade: r=0.46; P=0.0001) and SAVR (concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting: r=-0.33; P=0.03). Physical component score in TAVI increased after 30 days (32.1±6.6 versus 38.9±7.0; P<0.0001) and 6 months (40.4±9.3; P<0.0001); the improvement occurred later in SAVR (baseline: 34.9±10.6; 30 days: 35.9±10.2; 6 months: 42.8±11.2; P<0.001). After TAVI, there were no differences in the short form-12 health outcome scores according to the presence or size of new cerebral infarction.


CONCLUSIONS
Cerebral microinfarctions are more common after TAVI compared with SAVR but seem to have no negative effect on early (30 days) or medium term (6 months) health-related quality of life. Aortic atheroma (TAVI) and concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting (SAVR) are independent risk factors for cerebral microinfarction.
From the Multidisciplinary Cardiovascular Research Centre and Division of Cardiovascular and Diabetes Research, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom (A.U., T.A.F., A.K., M.M., B.H., D.P.R., T.A.M., S.P., J.P.G.); and Departments of Cardiology and Radiology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, United Kingdom (I.K.D., M.I., A.J.P.G., D.J.B., S.P., J.P.G.).
Akhlaque
A
Uddin
From the Multidisciplinary Cardiovascular Research Centre and Division of Cardiovascular and Diabetes Research, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom (A.U., T.A.F., A.K., M.M., B.H., D.P.R., T.A.M., S.P., J.P.G.); and Departments of Cardiology and Radiology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, United Kingdom (I.K.D., M.I., A.J.P.G., D.J.B., S.P., J.P.G.).
Timothy A
TA
Fairbairn
From the Multidisciplinary Cardiovascular Research Centre and Division of Cardiovascular and Diabetes Research, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom (A.U., T.A.F., A.K., M.M., B.H., D.P.R., T.A.M., S.P., J.P.G.); and Departments of Cardiology and Radiology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, United Kingdom (I.K.D., M.I., A.J.P.G., D.J.B., S.P., J.P.G.).
Ibrahim K
IK
Djoukhader
From the Multidisciplinary Cardiovascular Research Centre and Division of Cardiovascular and Diabetes Research, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom (A.U., T.A.F., A.K., M.M., B.H., D.P.R., T.A.M., S.P., J.P.G.); and Departments of Cardiology and Radiology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, United Kingdom (I.K.D., M.I., A.J.P.G., D.J.B., S.P., J.P.G.).
Mark
M
Igra
From the Multidisciplinary Cardiovascular Research Centre and Division of Cardiovascular and Diabetes Research, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom (A.U., T.A.F., A.K., M.M., B.H., D.P.R., T.A.M., S.P., J.P.G.); and Departments of Cardiology and Radiology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, United Kingdom (I.K.D., M.I., A.J.P.G., D.J.B., S.P., J.P.G.).
Ananth
A
Kidambi
From the Multidisciplinary Cardiovascular Research Centre and Division of Cardiovascular and Diabetes Research, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom (A.U., T.A.F., A.K., M.M., B.H., D.P.R., T.A.M., S.P., J.P.G.); and Departments of Cardiology and Radiology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, United Kingdom (I.K.D., M.I., A.J.P.G., D.J.B., S.P., J.P.G.).
Manish
M
Motwani
From the Multidisciplinary Cardiovascular Research Centre and Division of Cardiovascular and Diabetes Research, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom (A.U., T.A.F., A.K., M.M., B.H., D.P.R., T.A.M., S.P., J.P.G.); and Departments of Cardiology and Radiology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, United Kingdom (I.K.D., M.I., A.J.P.G., D.J.B., S.P., J.P.G.).
Bernhard
B
Herzog
From the Multidisciplinary Cardiovascular Research Centre and Division of Cardiovascular and Diabetes Research, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom (A.U., T.A.F., A.K., M.M., B.H., D.P.R., T.A.M., S.P., J.P.G.); and Departments of Cardiology and Radiology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, United Kingdom (I.K.D., M.I., A.J.P.G., D.J.B., S.P., J.P.G.).
David P
DP
Ripley
From the Multidisciplinary Cardiovascular Research Centre and Division of Cardiovascular and Diabetes Research, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom (A.U., T.A.F., A.K., M.M., B.H., D.P.R., T.A.M., S.P., J.P.G.); and Departments of Cardiology and Radiology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, United Kingdom (I.K.D., M.I., A.J.P.G., D.J.B., S.P., J.P.G.).
Tarique Al
TA
Musa
From the Multidisciplinary Cardiovascular Research Centre and Division of Cardiovascular and Diabetes Research, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom (A.U., T.A.F., A.K., M.M., B.H., D.P.R., T.A.M., S.P., J.P.G.); and Departments of Cardiology and Radiology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, United Kingdom (I.K.D., M.I., A.J.P.G., D.J.B., S.P., J.P.G.).
Anthony J P
AJ
Goddard
From the Multidisciplinary Cardiovascular Research Centre and Division of Cardiovascular and Diabetes Research, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom (A.U., T.A.F., A.K., M.M., B.H., D.P.R., T.A.M., S.P., J.P.G.); and Departments of Cardiology and Radiology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, United Kingdom (I.K.D., M.I., A.J.P.G., D.J.B., S.P., J.P.G.).
Daniel J
DJ
Blackman
From the Multidisciplinary Cardiovascular Research Centre and Division of Cardiovascular and Diabetes Research, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom (A.U., T.A.F., A.K., M.M., B.H., D.P.R., T.A.M., S.P., J.P.G.); and Departments of Cardiology and Radiology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, United Kingdom (I.K.D., M.I., A.J.P.G., D.J.B., S.P., J.P.G.).
Sven
S
Plein
From the Multidisciplinary Cardiovascular Research Centre and Division of Cardiovascular and Diabetes Research, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom (A.U., T.A.F., A.K., M.M., B.H., D.P.R., T.A.M., S.P., J.P.G.); and Departments of Cardiology and Radiology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, United Kingdom (I.K.D., M.I., A.J.P.G., D.J.B., S.P., J.P.G.). j.greenwood@leeds.ac.uk.
John P
JP
Greenwood
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D020766:Intracranial Embolism / Q000209:etiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life
aortic valve stenosis; magnetic resonance imaging; quality of life; transcatheter aortic valve replacement