Comparison of Effectiveness and Safety of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in Patients Aged ≥90 Years Versus <90 Years

In a fraction of patients aged ≥90 years, less-invasive transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been considered a therapeutic option for aortic stenosis under careful clinical screening. However, the safety and effectiveness using TAVI in such a population has not been fully elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the feasibility of TAVI in nonagenarians. We prospectively enrolled 136 consecutive patients with severe aortic stenosis who were referred for TAVI. The procedural, early, and midterm clinical outcomes were compared between patients aged <90 years (n = 110, average age 82.3 ± 8.3 years) and ≥90 years (n = 26; average age 91.6 ± 1.9 years). A comparison of the baseline characteristics revealed that among patients aged ≥90 years, the prevalence of women (50% vs 81%, p <0.001) and the mean aortic valve gradient (45.5 ± 15.4 vs 56.3 ± 23.4 mm Hg, p = 0.005) were greater than those in patients aged <90 years. Major vascular complications occurred more frequently in patients ≥90 years (5% vs 19%, p = 0.022), although the rate of procedural success and 30-day and 6-month mortality were not different between the 2 age groups (96% vs 100%, p = 0.58; 6% vs 15%, p = 0.22; and 14% vs 27%, p = 0.14, respectively). The mortality rates were greater among patients aged ≥90 years. At 6 months, both groups of survivors were similar in symptom status, with a New York Heart Association classification less than class II (89% vs 84%, p = 0.68). The cumulative survival (median 13.4 ± 8.0 months of follow-up) was not significantly different between the 2 age groups (p = 0.22, log-rank test). In conclusion, even very elderly nonagenarians can experience acceptable clinical results and benefits after TAVI.