In patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, moderate aortic stenosis was associated with an increased risk of heart failure hospitalization and mortality (HR 1.24) compared to no aortic stenosis.
Cohort (n=9,133)
No
Does moderate aortic stenosis increase the risk of heart failure hospitalization and mortality in patients with HFrEF compared to those without aortic stenosis?
In patients with HFrEF, the presence of moderate aortic stenosis is associated with significantly increased rates of heart failure hospitalization and mortality compared to those without aortic stenosis.
Hazard Ratio: 1.24 (95% CI 1.04–1.49)
Absolute Event Rate: 64.4% vs 59.9%
p-value: p=0.01
BACKGROUND Afterload from moderate aortic stenosis (AS) may contribute to adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). OBJECTIVES The authors evaluated clinical outcomes in patients with HFrEF and moderate AS relative to those without AS and with severe AS. METHODS Patients with HFrEF, defined by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <50% and no, moderate, or severe AS were retrospectively identified. The primary endpoint, defined as a composite of all-cause mortality and heart failure (HF) hospitalization, was compared across groups and within a propensity score-matched cohort. RESULTS We included 9,133 patients with HFrEF, of whom 374 and 362 had moderate and severe AS, respectively. Over a median follow-up time of 3.1 years, the primary outcome occurred in 62.7% of patients with moderate AS vs 45.9% with no AS (P < 0.0001); rates were similar with severe and moderate AS (62.0% vs 62.7%; P = 0.68). Patients with severe AS had a lower incidence of HF hospitalization (36.2% vs 43.6%; P < 0.05) and were more likely to undergo AVR within the follow-up period. Within a propensity score-matched cohort, moderate AS was associated with an increased risk of HF hospitalization and mortality (HR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.04-1.49; P = 0.01) and fewer days alive outside of the hospital (P < 0.0001). Aortic valve replacement (AVR) was associated with improved survival (HR: 0.60; CI: 0.36-0.99; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS In patients with HFrEF, moderate AS is associated with increased rates of HF hospitalization and mortality. Further investigation is warranted to determine whether AVR in this population improves clinical outcomes.
“Of course, we all know that the underpinning of heart failure management in patients with reduced ejection universally depends on afterload reduction. It makes logical sense that patients with increased afterload related to moderate aortic stenosis may benefit from earlier intervention.”
Khan et al. (Mon,) conducted a cohort in Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) (n=9,133). Moderate aortic stenosis vs. No aortic stenosis was evaluated on Composite of all-cause mortality and heart failure hospitalization (HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.04-1.49, p=0.01). In patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, moderate aortic stenosis was associated with an increased risk of heart failure hospitalization and mortality (HR 1.24) compared to no aortic stenosis.