Impact of Coronary Artery Disease Burden on 12-Month Mortality of Patients After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare 12-month mortality rate of patients with and without complete coronary revascularization before transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Background: There are limited data on the impact of coronary artery disease burden in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing TAVI.

Methods: One hundred and one consecutive patients undergoing TAVI were enrolled. Of them 16 (15.8%) had an incomplete coronary revascularization. The primary endpoint was 12-month all-cause mortality.

Results: Twelve-month all-cause mortality was higher in patients with incomplete coronary revascularization than in patients with complete coronary revascularization or without significant lesions (75.0% vs 7.1%; P < 0.001). Importantly, incomplete coronary revascularization was an independent predictor of higher mortality rate after 12 months (hazard ratio (HR) for incomplete coronary revascularization 10.86, 95% CI 3.72-31.73; P < 0.001; HR for a history of stroke/TIA 3.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.39-11.07; P < 0.001; HR for blood transfusion 2.84 95% CI (1.06-7.63); P = 0.039). In 9 of 16 (56.3%) patients, incomplete revascularization was related to the presence of chronic total occlusions (CTO). Patients with CTO had an increased mortality rate after 12 months (55.6% vs 14.1%; P = 0.008) as compared to patients without the CTO.

Conclusions: Incomplete coronary revascularization and a history of stroke or TIA may be independent predictors of all-cause mortality in patients undergoing TAVI. However, further studies are recommended to confirm the results, especially in terms of the impact of CTO presence on long-term mortality after TAVI.