title: Catheter closure of atrial septal defect in the elderly (≥65years). A worthwhile procedure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Secundum atrial septal defect (ASD2) is one of the most common cardiac malformations diagnosed in adult life. Catheter closure has made treatment possible even in patients of high age. However, published outcome data for elderly patients is limited. The aim of this study was to report, on a national basis, the long-term outcome of ASD2 catheter closure in the elderly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We report the clinical and echocardiographic outcome of catheter closure of ASD2 in 148 patients aged 65-87years. Data was obtained from a national registry, medical records and a questionnaire. The proportion of patients in NYHA I increased from 34% to 61% (p<0.001) one year after closure and remained stable at the latest follow-up 4,4 (SD 2,6) years post-closure. The proportion of patients with moderate/severe enlargement of the right ventricle and atrium fell from 77% and 76% to 25% and 40%, respectively, (p<0.001) and right ventricular systolic pressure dropped significantly. Improvement of NYHA class was associated with reduced right ventricular systolic pressure but not with remodelling of the right heart. NYHA deteriorated in 9 patients, despite reduced right ventricular size. Overall, the prevalence of atrial fibrillation was unchanged after closure. Major complication rate was 2% and there was no procedure- or device-related mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Catheter closure of ASD2 in the elderly is a worthwhile procedure since it improves symptoms and has a low complication rate. However, a subset of patients do not improve, in which we suggest that concealed left ventricular dysfunction may play a causative role.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Halmstad Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thilén
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Cardiology, Uppsala University, Sweden.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Christersson
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Östra, Inst of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dellborg
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mattsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Linköping University hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trzebiatowska-Krzynska
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Sweden. Electronic address: ulf.thilen@skane.se.
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Thilén
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Adult congenital heart disease; Atrial septal defect; Catheter closure; Elderly; SWEDCON