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Published on: December 11, 2017
Bicuspid aortic valve outcomes
Inês Rodrigues1, Ana F Agapito1, Lídia de Sousa1
1Department of Cardiology,Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central,Hospital de Santa Marta,Lisbon,Portugal.
Insights
Adults with bicuspid aortic valve have excellent long-term survival but frequently experience cardiovascular events. Baseline aortic valve calcification and dysfunction predict these events.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Congenital Heart Disease
- Aortic Valve Disease
Background:
- Bicuspid aortic valve is the most common congenital heart defect.
- It is associated with valvular dysfunction, endocarditis, thoracic aorta dilatation, and dissection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the incidence of cardiac events in adults with bicuspid aortic valve.
- To identify predictors of cardiac events in this population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of cardiac outcomes in ambulatory adults with bicuspid aortic valve.
- Follow-up in a tertiary hospital center.
- Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariate analysis were used.
Main Results:
- 227 patients were followed for 13±9 years.
- 38.8% experienced at least one cardiac outcome; 20-year incidence was 47±4%.
- Baseline moderate-severe aortic valve dysfunction and calcification predicted composite endpoint.
Conclusions:
- Long-term survival in bicuspid aortic valve patients is excellent.
- Frequent cardiovascular events occur, with calcification and dysfunction as key predictors.
Background:
Bicuspid aortic valve is the most common CHD. Its association with early valvular dysfunction, endocarditis, thoracic aorta dilatation, and aortic dissection is well established.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to assess the incidence and predictors of cardiac events in adults with bicuspid aortic valve.
Methods:
We carried out a retrospective analysis of cardiac outcomes in ambulatory adults with bicuspid aortic valve followed-up in a tertiary hospital centre. Outcomes were defined as follows: interventional - intervention on the aortic valve or thoracic aorta; medical - death, aortic dissection, aortic valve endocarditis, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, or ischaemic heart disease requiring hospital admission; and a composite end point of both. Kaplan-Meier curves were generated to determine event rates, and predictors of cardiac events were determined by multivariate analysis.
Results:
A total of 227 patients were followed-up over 13±9 years; 29% of patients developed severe aortic valve dysfunction and 12.3% reached ascending thoracic aorta dimensions above 45 mm. At least one cardiac outcome occurred in 38.8% of patients, with an incidence rate at 20 years of follow-up of 47±4%; 33% of patients were submitted to an aortic valve or thoracic aorta intervention. Survival 20 years after diagnosis was 94±2%. Independent predictors of the composite end point were baseline moderate-severe aortic valve dysfunction (hazard ratio, 3.19; 95% confidence interval, 1.35-7.54; p<0.01) and aortic valve leaflets calcification (hazard ratio, 4.72; 95% confidence interval, 1.91-11.64; p<0.005).
Conclusions:
In this study of bicuspid aortic valve, the long-term survival was excellent but with occurrence of frequent cardiovascular events. Baseline aortic valve calcification and dysfunction were the only independent predictors of events.
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