Abstract Body: Background: Most studies of left ventricular wall stress in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) focus on the end systolic (LVESWS) component with suggestion of an inverse association with adverse outcomes. LV end diastolic wall stress (LVEDWS) is less characterized and LVEDWS to LVESWS ratio, which may provide a combined measure of diastolic and systolic dysfunction and remodeling, has not been previously reported in patients with severe AS undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).
Hypothesis: Higher LVEDWS to LVESWS ratio assessed by echocardiography prior to TAVR associates with greater risk of post-TAVR death.
Methods: From a multicenter registry of patients with severe AS undergoing TAVR, we examined 637 participants (median age 84 years, 43% female, 95% white) who underwent pre-TAVR echocardiogram from which LVEDWS and LVESWS could be calculated from chamber dimensions, wall thicknesses, aortic valve gradient, blood pressure, and E/e’. Multivariable-adjusted Cox regression was used to examine associations between LVEDWS, LVESWS, their ratio, and the risk of post-TAVR mortality.
Results: Median LVEDWS, LVESWS, and LVEDWS/LVESWS ratio were 22.1 (IQR: 16.2, 29.7) kdynes/cm2, 64.7 (IQR: 50.0, 90.7) kdynes/cm2, and 0.32 (IQR: 0.24, 0.43), respectively. Correlates of higher LVEDWS/LVESWS included: female gender, non-white race, hypertension medication use, higher natriuretic peptide and LV ejection fraction, and lower systolic and diastolic BP and hemoglobin. Over a median follow-up of 3 years post-TAVR, 262 (41%) individuals died. Higher LVEDWS tended towards greater risk of death (aHR: 1.013; 95% CI 0.999 – 1.027, p=0.071), while higher LVESWS associated with lower mortality risk (aHR: 0.993; 95% CI 0.988-0.998, p=0.008). Higher LVEDWS/LVESWS ratio associated with greater risk of death (aHR: 1.130, 95% CI 1.043-1.224, p=0.003, per 0.1 unit) (Figure), independent of age, comorbidities, LVEF, mass index, natriuretic peptide, and troponin.
Conclusion: Among patients with severe aortic stenosis, higher LVEDWS to LVESWS ratio prior to TAVR associated with greater risk of post-TAVR mortality.