PFO Device Closure in Patients >60 Years of Age With Ischemic Stroke: Results From U.S. Medicare Beneficiaries

Transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a recommended stroke reduction option in patients ≤60 years of age with cryptogenic ischemic stroke, but data on clinical outcomes following PFO closure in patients >60 years of age are scarce.

The aim of this real-world evidence study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of PFO closure in patients >60 years of age in the United States.

Medicare fee-for-service data from 2016 to 2022 were used to identify patients >60 years of age who were hospitalized with ischemic stroke and diagnosed with PFO or atrial septal defect and also had ≥6 months of prior fee-for-service coverage. Patients who were implanted with the Amplatzer or Talisman PFO occluder (device group) were identified by linkage to a manufacturer device-tracking database and were propensity score matched (1:4) to those who did not undergo device implantation (control group). Acute safety events through 30 days and recurrent ischemic stroke through 3 years were evaluated.

A total of 20,999 Medicare beneficiaries (device group, n = 1,132; control group, n = 19,867) met the inclusion criteria. The matched cohort included 5,508 Medicare beneficiaries (device group, n = 1,132; control group, n = 4,376), with 45% women, a median age of 71 years (Q1-Q3: 67-75 years), and median follow-up of 2.58 years (Q1-Q3: 1.17-3.97 years). The risk for recurrent ischemic stroke was significantly lower in the device group (1.65 [95% CI: 1.18-2.13] events per 100 patient-years) than the control group (2.66 [95% CI: 2.33-3.00] events per 100 patient-years) (HR: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.44-0.88; P = 0.007). Rates of 30-day safety events were not different for death, but venous thromboembolism (1.86% vs 0.37%; P < 0.001) and atrial fibrillation or flutter (1.41% vs 0.64%; P = 0.01) were more common in the device group.

In a real-world U.S. cohort of patients >60 years of age, PFO closure was associated with a reduced risk for recurrent ischemic stroke compared with medical therapy alone, while maintaining a clinically acceptable safety profile.