Sex Differences in Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

BACKGROUND Transfemoral aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a guideline-recommended treatment option for patients with severe aortic valve stenosis. Females and males present with different baseline characteristics, which may influence procedural outcomes. OBJECTIVES To evaluate differences between females and males undergoing transfemoral TAVR across the globe during the last decade. METHODS The CENTER collaboration was a global patient level dataset of patients undergoing transfemoral TAVR (N= 12,381) from 2007-2018. In this retrospective analysis we examined differences in baseline patient characteristics, 30-day stroke and mortality and in-hospital outcomes between female and male patients. We also assessed for temporal changes in outcomes and predictors for mortality per gender. RESULTS We included 58% (n=7,120) female and 42% (n=5,261) male patients. Females had higher prevalence of hypertension and glomerular filtration rate <30ml/min/m2, but lower prevalence of all other traditional cardiovascular comorbidities. Both genders had similar rates of 30-day stroke (2.3% vs 2.5%, p=0.53) and mortality (5.9% vs. 5.5%, p=0.17). In contrast, females had a 50% higher risk of life-threatening or major bleeding (6.7% vs 4.4%, p<0.01). Over the study period mortality rates decreased to a greater extent in males than in females (60% vs 50% reduction, both p<0.001), with no reductions in stroke rates over time. CONCLUSIONS In this global collaboration females and males had similar rates of 30-day mortality and stroke. However, females had higher rates of procedural life-threatening or major bleeding after TAVR. Between 2007 and 2018 mortality rates decreased to a greater extent in males than in females.