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International Journal of Cardiology.... Mar 2024The beneficial effects of exercise training-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in different cardiac conditions have been previously studied. In this meta-analysis, we...
BACKGROUND
The beneficial effects of exercise training-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in different cardiac conditions have been previously studied. In this meta-analysis, we focused on the potential impact of CR on patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).
METHODS
Multiple databases were searched in a systematic approach to find the eligible studies. All the studies investigating the potential impact of exercise training-based CR programmes on exercise capacity and health-related quality of life in patients undergoing TAVI were retrieved. The primary endpoint of interest was 6-min walk test (6MWT). The pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) were measured to compare the improvement or worsening the endpoints using a random- or fixed-effects model, as appropriate.
RESULTS
A total of eleven studies (685 patients) were considered eligible for quantitative synthesis. The results showed that performing exercise training-based CR after TAVI is associated with significant improvement in 6MWT (SMD 0.59, 95 % CI (0.48; 0.71), < 0.01), Barthel index (SMD 0.73, 95 % CI (0.57; 0.89), < 0.01), 12-item Short Form (SF-12) physical (SMD 0.30, 95 % CI (0.08; 0.52), < 0.01) and mental (SMD 0.27, 95 % CI (0.05; 0.49), = 0.02) survey scores, and hospital anxiety and depression scale - depression (HADS-D) score (SMD -0.26, 95 % CI (-0.42; -0.10), < 0.01).
CONCLUSION
Performing exercise training-based CR following TAVI has significant benefits regarding physical capacity and health-related quality of life irrespective of the programme duration.
PubMed: 38322761
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcrp.2024.200238 -
Cardiovascular Revascularization... Jun 2024Transthoracic approaches may be contraindicated in some patients and may be associated with poorer outcomes. Therefore other alternative access routes are increasingly... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Transthoracic approaches may be contraindicated in some patients and may be associated with poorer outcomes. Therefore other alternative access routes are increasingly being performed. We conducted a systematic review of the literature on Transcarotid transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TC-TAVR) and meta-analysis comparing outcomes of TC-TAVR and other access routes.
METHODS
We comprehensively searched for controlled randomized and non-randomized studies from 4 online databases. We presented data using risk ratios (95 % confidence intervals) and measured heterogeneity using Higgins' I.
RESULTS
Sixteen observational studies on Transcarotid TAVR were included in the analysis; 4 studies compared 180 TC-TAVR patients vs 524 TT-TAVR patients. The mean age and STS score for patients undergoing TC-TAVR were 80 years and 7.6 respectively. For TT-TAVR patients, the mean age and STS score were 79.7 years and 8.7 respectively. TC-TAVR patients had lower 30-day MACE [7.8 % vs 13.7 %; OR 0.54 (95 % CI 0.29-0.99, P = 0.05)] and major or life-threatening bleeding [4.0 % vs 14.2 %; OR 0.25 (95 % CI 0.09-0.67, P = 0.006)]. There was no significant difference in 30-day: mortality [5.0 % vs 8.6 %; OR 0.61 (95 % CI 0.29-1.30, P = 0.20)], stroke or transient ischemic attack [2.8 % vs 4.0 %; OR 0.65 (95 % CI 0.25-1.73, P = 0.39)] and moderate or severe aortic valve regurgitation [5.0 % vs 4.6 %; OR 1.14. (95 % CI 0.52-2.52, P = 0.75)]. There was a trend towards fewer major vascular complications in TC-TAVR [3.0 % vs 7.8 %; OR 0.42 (95 % CI 0.16-1.12, P = 0.08)].
CONCLUSION
Compared with transthoracic TAVR, TC-TAVR patients had lower odds of 30-day MACE and life-threatening bleeding and no differences in 30-day mortality, stroke or TIA, aortic valve regurgitation.
Topics: Humans; Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement; Treatment Outcome; Risk Factors; Aortic Valve Stenosis; Aortic Valve; Aged, 80 and over; Aged; Female; Male; Risk Assessment; Time Factors; Catheterization, Peripheral; Postoperative Complications
PubMed: 38320876
DOI: 10.1016/j.carrev.2024.01.015 -
International Journal of Surgery... Apr 2024Chronic steroid (CS) therapy was reportedly linked to increased vascular complications following percutaneous coronary intervention. However, its association with... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Chronic steroid (CS) therapy was reportedly linked to increased vascular complications following percutaneous coronary intervention. However, its association with vascular complications after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remained uncertain, with conflicting results being reported.
OBJECTIVE
The authors aimed to compare the rate of vascular complications and outcomes between patients with and without CS use after TAVR.
METHODS
The authors conducted a comprehensive literature search in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases from their inception until 18th April 2022 for relevant studies. Endpoints were described according to Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 definitions. Effect sizes were pooled using DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model as risk ratio (RR) with 95% CI.
RESULTS
Five studies with 6136 patients undergoing TAVR were included in the analysis. The included studies were published between 2015 and 2022. The mean ages of patients in both study groups were similar, with the CS group averaging 80 years and the nonsteroid group averaging 82 years. Notably, a higher proportion of patients in the CS group were female (56%) compared to the nonsteroid group (54%). CS use was associated with a significantly higher risk of major vascular complications (12.5 vs. 6.7%, RR 2.32, 95% CI: 1.73-3.11, P <0.001), major bleeding (16.8 vs. 13.1%, RR 1.61, 95% CI: 1.27-2.05, P <0.001), and aortic annulus rupture (2.3 vs. 0.6%, RR 4.66, 95% CI: 1.67-13.01, P <0.001). There was no significant difference in terms of minor vascular complications (RR 1.43, 95% CI: 1.00-2.04, P =0.05), in-hospital mortality (2.3 vs. 1.4%, RR 1.86, 95% CI: 0.74-4.70, P =0.19), and 30-day mortality (2.9 vs. 3.1%, RR 1.14, 95% CI: 0.53-2.46, P =0.74) between both groups.
CONCLUSION
Our study showed that CS therapy is associated with increased major vascular complications, major bleeding, and annulus rupture following TAVR. Further large multicenter studies or randomized controlled trials are warranted to validate these findings.
Topics: Humans; Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement; Postoperative Complications; Aortic Valve Stenosis; Steroids; Vascular Diseases; Female; Aged, 80 and over; Male
PubMed: 38320107
DOI: 10.1097/JS9.0000000000001132 -
BMC Cardiovascular Disorders Jan 2024The published studies comparing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in pure aortic regurgitation (AR) are... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
INTRODUCTION
The published studies comparing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in pure aortic regurgitation (AR) are conflicting. We conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to compare TAVI with SAVR in pure AR.
METHODS
We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science (WOS), Scopus, and the Cochrane Library Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) from inception until 23 June 2023. Review Manager was used for statistical analysis. The risk ratio (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to compare dichotomous outcomes. Continuous outcomes were compared using the mean difference (MD) and 95% CI. The inconsistency test (I) assessed the heterogeneity. We used the Newcastle-Ottawa scale to assess the quality of included studies. We evaluated the strength of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) scale.
RESULTS
We included six studies with 5633 patients in the TAVI group and 27,851 in SAVR. In-hospital mortality was comparable between TAVI and SAVR (RR = 0.89, 95% CI [0.56, 1.42], P = 0.63) (I = 86%, P < 0.001). TAVI was favored over SAVR regarding in-hospital stroke (RR = 0.50; 95% CI [0.39, 0.66], P < 0.001) (I = 11%, P = 0.34), in-hospital acute kidney injury (RR = 0.56; 95% CI: [0.41, 0.76], P < 0.001) (I = 91%, P < 0.001), major bleeding (RR = 0.23; 95% CI: [0.17, 0.32], P < 0.001) (I = 78%, P < 0.001), and shorter hospital say (MD = - 4.76 days; 95% CI: [- 5.27, - 4.25], P < 0.001) (I = 88%, P < 0.001). In contrast, TAVI was associated with a higher rate of pacemaker implantation (RR = 1.68; 95% CI: [1.50, 1.88], P < 0.001) (I = 0% P = 0.83).
CONCLUSION
TAVI reduces in-hospital stroke and is associated with better safety outcomes than SAVR in patients with pure AR.
Topics: Humans; Aortic Valve; Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement; Aortic Valve Insufficiency; Acute Kidney Injury; Stroke
PubMed: 38262990
DOI: 10.1186/s12872-023-03667-0 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Jan 2024A growing body of evidence suggests that extrathoracic vascular accesses for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) yield favorable outcomes and can be considered... (Review)
Review
A growing body of evidence suggests that extrathoracic vascular accesses for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) yield favorable outcomes and can be considered as primary alternatives when the gold-standard transfemoral access is contraindicated. Data comparing the transcaval (TCv) to supra-aortic (SAo) approaches (transcarotid, transsubclavian, and transaxillary) for TAVR are lacking. We aimed to compare the outcomes and safety of TCv and SAo accesses for TAVR as alternatives to transfemoral TAVR. A systematic review with meta-analysis was performed by searching PubMed/MEDLINE and EMBASE databases for all articles comparing TCv-TAVR against SAo-TAVR published until September 2023. Outcomes included in-hospital or 30-day all-cause mortality (ACM) and postoperative complications. A total of three studies with 318 TCv-TAVR and 179 SAo-TAVR patients were included. No statistically significant difference was found regarding in-hospital or 30-day ACM (relative risk [RR] 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.47-2.34, = 0.91), major bleeding, the need for blood transfusions, major vascular complications, and acute kidney injury. TCv-TAVR was associated with a non-statistically significant lower rate of neurovascular complications (RR 0.39, 95%CI 0.14-1.09, = 0.07). These results suggest that both approaches may be considered as first-line alternatives to transfemoral TAVR, depending on local expertise and patients' anatomy. Additional data from long-term cohort studies are needed.
PubMed: 38256589
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13020455 -
Open Heart Jan 2024A quarter of patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) were asymptomatic, and only a third of them survived at the end of 4 years. Only a select subset of these patients... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Systematic review and meta-analysis of early aortic valve replacement versus conservative therapy in patients with asymptomatic aortic valve stenosis with preserved left ventricle systolic function.
BACKGROUND
A quarter of patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) were asymptomatic, and only a third of them survived at the end of 4 years. Only a select subset of these patients was recommended for aortic valve replacement (AVR) by the current American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines. We intended to study the effect of early AVR (eAVR) in this subset of asymptomatic patients with preserved left ventricle function.
METHODS AND RESULTS
We searched PubMed and Embase for randomised and observational studies comparing the effect of eAVR versus conservative therapy in patients with severe, asymptomatic AS and normal left ventricular function. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. The secondary outcomes were composite major adverse cardiac events (MACE) (study defined), myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, cardiac death, sudden death, the development of symptoms, heart failure hospitalisations and major bleeding. We used GRADEPro to assess the certainty of the evidence. In the randomised controlled trial (RCT) only analysis, we found no significant difference in all-cause mortality between the early aortic intervention group versus the conservative arm (CA) (incidence rate ratio, IRR (CI): 0.5 (0.2 to 1.1), I=31%, p=0.09). However, in the overall cohort, we found mortality benefit for eAVR over CA (IRR (CI): 0.4 (0.3 to 0.7), I=84%, p<0.01). There were significantly lower MACE, cardiac death, sudden death, development of symptoms and heart failure hospitalisations in the eAVR group. We noticed no difference in MI, stroke and major bleeding.
CONCLUSION
We conclude that there is no reduction in all-cause mortality in the eAVR arm in patients with asymptomatic AS with preserved ejection fraction. However, eAVR reduces heart failure related hospitalisations and death or heart failure hospitalisations.
PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER
CRD42022306132.
Topics: Humans; Aortic Valve; Aortic Valve Stenosis; Conservative Treatment; Death, Sudden, Cardiac; Heart Failure; Hemorrhage; Myocardial Infarction; Stroke; United States; Ventricular Function, Left; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement
PubMed: 38191233
DOI: 10.1136/openhrt-2023-002511 -
Clinical Medicine (London, England) Nov 2023
Meta-Analysis
Topics: Humans; Aortic Valve; Sternotomy
PubMed: 38182220
DOI: 10.7861/clinmed.23-6-s58 -
Cureus Dec 2023Despite the advancement in medicine, there is still a lack of understanding of the sex disparities in disease onset, progression, treatment, and outcome. In some... (Review)
Review
Despite the advancement in medicine, there is still a lack of understanding of the sex disparities in disease onset, progression, treatment, and outcome. In some life-threatening acute conditions, despite most patients with these illnesses being males, females have a significantly higher chance of mortality. This can be due to the differences in disease progression or healthcare disparities in managing the illness between the sexes. Treatment of illnesses tends to be more conservative for women without an explanation, but this disparity is due to the healthcare provider. Infective endocarditis (IE) is an acute life-threatening condition where bacteria latch onto and seed damaged endocardium, with some preliminary information reporting differences between the sexes. This paper aims to evaluate the sex disparities in the incidence, age, comorbidities, etiology, risk factors, manifestations, treatment, and outcomes of IE. From 2003-2023, 21584 articles were found that focused on the sex differences in IE and, through PRISMA guidelines, were narrowed down to 34 publications. There are significant differences between the sexes in IE, such as a significantly higher incidence of IE in males, who also tend to be older and have their native aortic valves involved, compared to younger females who have their mitral valve involved. Comorbidities also vary between the sexes; females tend to have atrial fibrillation, chronic kidney disease, psychiatric disorders, and taking immunosuppressants compared to males who suffer from chronic liver disease, underlying valve disease, and peripheral artery disease, contributing to the ease of developing IE. While the most common microorganism leading to IE is females were more likely to have culture-negative IE, and men were more likely to be infected with Major manifestations in IE are fever and vegetation along the closure of the valves in the heart, where females were more likely to have vegetation on the mitral and aortic valves. At the same time, males were more likely to have it on the tricuspid valve. On par with sex disparities in health, females usually took longer to seek medical help than males despite the advancement of symptoms and deterioration. Females were also treated conservatively through antibiotic management, whereas males were more likely to advance to surgical treatment, leading to a longer hospital stay. While there was no true difference in the in-hospital mortality rate, the 30-day and 1-year mortality were significantly increased in females. These differences provide a range of starting points for various research to further educate physicians on sex disparities, such as why males have a higher incidence of infective endocarditis and determining whether it's hormones and basic metabolites, possibly limiting those who develop the infection. Another important point is treating females with IE; the antibiotic doses are standard, but whether they advance to surgical treatment is mostly up to the provider. Some providers deny surgical treatment despite all indications, but it could also be females denying surgery as they tend to leave against medical advice. This review is crucial in developing the next steps to sex disparity in IE, which may lead to better outcomes for males and females.
PubMed: 38169615
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.49815 -
Cureus Nov 2023Aortic valve replacement (AVR) successfully treats aortic valve stenosis and aortic regurgitation from aging or bicuspid aortic valves. The procedure intends to restore... (Review)
Review
Aortic valve replacement (AVR) successfully treats aortic valve stenosis and aortic regurgitation from aging or bicuspid aortic valves. The procedure intends to restore the obstructed left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT). AVR can be performed surgically (surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR); open heart) or via transcatheter (transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)), typically done through a femoral approach as a minimally invasive procedure, allowing for quicker recovery and reduced hospital stays. AVR has many complications, including life-threatening ones, such as infective endocarditis (IE), retarding the recovery process and increasing mortality following surgery. IE is an uncommon and deadly condition that involves multiple organ systems and is caused by bacteremia stemming from a microorganism that enters the bloodstream. Many manifestations are involved in the development of IE, such as fevers, flu-like symptoms, splinter hemorrhages, Osler nodes, abscesses, and vegetations found on the valves at the leaflets. Vegetations and abscesses tend to create further complications, such as stroke and acute kidney injury, as emboli block blood flow, leading to ischemia and damage. This paper aims to evaluate the difference in SAVR- and TAVR-associated IE, as the goal is to elucidate a danger that diminishes the positive effects of either procedure despite its rarity. Studies have been inconclusive in determining whether or not there is a trend, let alone a difference in incident rates. Both procedures share similar risk factors, but SAVR-associated IE is usually caused by and studies indicate possibly in TAVR-associated IE. Incident rates of IE are much higher than they should be, whether or not they differ between procedures, and future research needs to consider the pathways and risk factors that can be used to reduce the occurrence of AVR-associated IE.
PubMed: 38116334
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.49048 -
Annals of Cardiothoracic Surgery Nov 2023Recent reports on sex differences in long-term outcomes after surgery for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) are conflicting. We aimed to aggregate updated data on...
BACKGROUND
Recent reports on sex differences in long-term outcomes after surgery for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) are conflicting. We aimed to aggregate updated data on long-term survival and reoperation stratified by sex.
METHODS
A literature search was conducted using Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Central. Studies reporting sex-stratified long-term survival and/or reoperation following surgery for ATAAD between January 1, 2000, to March 15, 2023 were included. Preoperative characteristics, intraoperative variables, and early perioperative outcomes were meta-analyzed using a random effects model and pooled risk ratio (RR) with men as the reference group. Individual patient-level data for long-term outcomes was reconstructed to generate sex-specific pooled Kaplan-Meier curves to assess long-term survival and freedom from reoperation.
RESULTS
A total of 15 studies with 7,608 male and 3,989 female patients were included in this analysis. Female patients were older, had higher rates of hypertension, and had less previous cardiac surgery. Intraoperatively, women received less extensive repairs with lower rates of aortic valve replacement and total arch replacement, and higher rates of hemiarch replacement. There were no sex differences for in-hospital/30-day mortality [risk ratio (RR), 1.18; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.96, 1.45; P=0.12], stroke (RR, 1.07; 95% CI: 0.90, 1.28; P=0.46), and early reoperation (RR, 0.90; 95% CI: 0.75, 1.09; P=0.28). Female patients had lower long-term survival overall (P<0.001) and amongst survivors at 1-year (P=0.014). Overall survival at 5-year was 82.4% in men and 78.1% in women, and at 10-year was 68.1% for men and 63.4% in women. Male patients had higher rates of long-term reoperation (P<0.001). Freedom for reoperation at 5-year was 88.4% in men 93.1% in women.
CONCLUSIONS
Though perioperative early outcomes have equalized between the sexes following surgery for ATAAD, differences remain in long-term survival and reoperation.
PubMed: 38090347
DOI: 10.21037/acs-2023-adw-0098