Preprocedural New York Heart Association Class IV Independently Predicts Mortality After Effective Edge-To-Edge...

In patients with primary mitral regurgitation (MR) (PMR), advanced symptoms classified as New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV are typically driven by valve deterioration. Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (mitral valve transcatheter edge-to-edge repair [M-TEER]) reliably achieves effective reduction of mitral regurgitation in high-risk patients. However, whether or not preprocedural NYHA class IV continues to predict outcomes after successful MR reduction remains unclear.

The Outcomes of Patients tReated wIth Mitral Transcatheter Edge-to-edge Repair for Primary Mitral Regurgitation Registry includes PMR patients undergoing M-TEER at 27 international sites between 2009 and 2023. Clinical outcomes were compared between patients in NYHA class IV and those in NYHA class II/III.

A total of 2528 patients were included (median age 82 years [interquartile range (IQR) 76-85], 45.9% female), and 19.7% presented in NYHA class IV. Baseline left ventricular ejection fraction and right ventricular function did not differ significantly between groups. Procedural success (residual MR ≤ 1+: 66.7% vs. 64.6%, p = 0.55) and 2-year rehospitalization rates (17.9% vs. 20.4%, log-rank p = 0.78) were comparable. In contrast, 2-year all-cause mortality was higher in NYHA class IV patients (31.8% vs. 21.1%, log-rank p < 0.0001). Multivariable Cox regression confirmed preprocedural NYHA class IV as an independent predictor of mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.75; 95% CI 1.32-2.31; p < 0.001).

In PMR, preprocedural NYHA class IV remains an independent predictor of all-cause mortality after effective MR reduction with M-TEER, despite comparable postprocedural results.