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ObjectiveContemporary data on patients with previously undiagnosed severe aortic stenosis (AS) are scarce. We aimed to address this gap by gathering data from consecutive patients diagnosed with severe AS on echocardiography.MethodsThis was a prospective, multicentre, multinational, registry in 23 tertiary care hospitals across 9 European countries. Patients with a diagnosis of severe AS were included using echocardiography (aortic valve area (AVA) <1 cm2, indexed AVA <0.6 cm2/m2, maximum jet-velocity (Vmax) >4 m/s and/or mean transvalvular gradient >40 mm Hg).ResultsThe 2171 participants had a mean age of 77.9 years and 48.0% were female. The mean AVA was 0.73 cm2, Vmax4.3 m/s and mean gradient 47.1 mm Hg; 62.1% had left ventricular hypertrophy and 27.3% an ejection fraction (EF) <50%. 1743 patients (80.3%) were symptomatic (shortness-of-breath 91.0%; dizziness 30.2%, chest pain 28.9%). Patients had a EuroSCORE II of 4.0; 25.3% had a creatinine clearance <50 mL/min, and 3.2% had an EF <30%. Symptomatic patients were older and had more comorbidities than asymptomatic patients. Despite European Society of Cardiology 2017 valvular heart disease guideline class I recommendation, in only 76.2% a decision was made for an intervention (transcatheter 50.4%, surgical aortic valve replacement 25.8%). In asymptomatic patients, 57.7% with a class I/IIa indication were scheduled for a procedure, while 36.3% patients without an indication had their valve replaced.ConclusionsThe majority of patients with severe AS presented at an advanced disease stage. Management of severe AS remained suboptimal in a significant proportion of contemporary patients with severe AS.Trial registration numberNCT02241447;Results.

BackgroundThe Valve Academic Research Consortium (VARC) recently proposed a definition of high bleeding risk (HBR) for patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). This study aims to evaluate the prevalence and distribution of the VARC-HBR criteria and their ability to predict in-hospital bleeding.MethodsPatients undergoing TAVI at 18 European sites between 2007 and 2022 and included in the Transfusion Requirements in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (NCT03740425) registry were stratified into low, moderate, high or very high bleeding risk using the VARC-HBR criteria. The primary outcome was in-hospital major or life-threatening bleeding (VARC-2 definition).ResultsAmong 8464 patients, bleeding risk was very high in 1966 (23.2%), high in 3311 (39.1%), moderate in 2075 (24.5%) and low in 1112 (13.1%). In-hospital bleeding occurred in 11.0% of those at low risk, compared with 17.2%, 20.0% and 22.2% of patients at moderate, high and very high risk (p<0.001). The association between VARC-HBR criteria and bleeding remained significant after adjustment for calendar time. At 2 years, the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events ranged from 13.8% in low-risk patients to 13.1%, 18.6% and 25.4% among those at moderate, high and very high risk (p<0.001). Mortality was higher after a bleeding event (HR 1.71, 95% CI 1.50 to 1.95), especially within the first 3 months (HR 2.88, 95% CI 2.33 to 3.56).ConclusionsUp to 60% of patients undergoing TAVI are at high or very high bleeding risk. The VARC-HBR criteria identified those at greater risk of adverse events. In-hospital bleeding complications and long-term cardiovascular events increased progressively across VARC-HBR categories.