Prosthetic Valve in Chronic Dialysis: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Many patients with end stage kidney disease (ESKD) have valvular heart disease requiring surgery. The optimal prosthetic valve is not established in this population. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis assessing outcomes of patients with dialysis-dependent ESKD who received mechanical or bioprosthetic valves. Methods: We searched Cochrane CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and EMBASE from inception to January 2020. We performed screening, full-text assessment, risk of bias, and data-collection independently and in duplicate. We evaluated risk of bias using the ROBINS-I tool and certainty in evidence with GRADE. Data were pooled using a random-effects model. Results: We identified 28 observational studies (n=9857; 6680 mechanical and 3717 bioprosthetic) with a median follow-up of 3.45 years. Due to confounding, 22 studies were at “high” and one at “critical” risk of bias. Certainty in evidence for all outcomes, except for bleeding, was very-low. Mechanical valves were associated with reduced mortality at 30 days (RR0.79, 95%CI[0.65,0.97], I2=0, absolute effect 27 fewer deaths per 1000) and at ≥ 6 years (mean 9.7 years, RR0.83, 95%CI[0.72,0.96], I2=79%, absolute effect 145 fewer deaths per 1000), but increased bleeding (RR2.46, 95%CI[1.35,4.48], I2=69% absolute effect 113 more events per 1000) and stroke (RR1.53, 95%CI[1.13,2.07], I2=0%, absolute effect 21 more events per 1000). Conclusion: Mechanical valves are associated with reduced mortality, but increased risks of bleeding and stroke. Given very-low certainty for mortality and stroke, patients and clinicians may choose a prosthetic valve based on factors such as bleeding risk and valve longevity.