Comparison of Outcomes of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in Patients ≥90 Years Versus <90 Years

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for severe aortic stenosis (AS) is increasingly performed in nonagenarians. There is scarce evidence on the feasibility and safety of balloon-expandable TAVI in this patient population. A total of 734 patients who underwent balloon-expandable TAVI at our institute were included in the study. We compared 136 patients who were aged at least 90 years at the time of TAVI (mean age 92.4 ± 2.4 years) with the remaining 598 younger patients (mean age 79.7 ± 7.8 years). Valve Academic Research Consortium 2 end points were compared between the 2 groups. Diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral artery disease (PAD), and chronic lung disease were significantly less prevalent in patients aged ≥90 years. In contrast, the prevalence of frailty, chronic renal failure, and atrial fibrillation was significantly higher in these patients. Device success was 96% in both groups. All-cause mortality at 30 days and 1 year was 2.9% and 12.5% versus 2.8% and 12.3% in patients aged ≥90 and <90, respectively (p = 0.95 for both). All major complication rates were similar between groups. Nonagenarians had higher rates of minor vascular complications (13.2% vs 7.7%; p = 0.04). In conclusion, performing balloon-expandable TAVI in carefully selected group of nonagenarians is feasible and offers clinical benefit comparable to patients aged <90 years. Advanced age, in the absence of significant co-morbidities, should not deter clinicians from evaluating patients for TAVI for severe AS.