Does Gender Influence the Indication of Treatment and Long-Term Prognosis in Severe Aortic Stenosis?

Abstract

Introduction: It is a matter of controversy whether the therapeutic strategy for severe aortic stenosis (AS) differs according to gender. Methods: Retrospective study of patients diagnosed with severe AS (transvalvular mean gradient ≥ 40 mmHg and/or aortic valvular area < 1 cm2) between 2009 and 2019. Our aim was to assess the association of sex on AVR or medical management and outcomes in patients with severe AS. Results: 452 patients were included. Women (51.1%) were older than men (80 ± 8.4 vs. 75.8 ± 9.9 years; p < 0.001). Aortic valve replacement (AVR) was performed less frequently in women (43.4% vs. 53.2%; p = 0.03), but multivariate analyses showed that sex was not an independent predictor factor for AVR. Age, Charlson index and symptoms were predictive factors (OR 0.81 [0.82–0.89], OR 0.81 [0.71–0.93], OR 22.02 [6.77–71.64]). Survival analysis revealed no significant association of sex within all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities (log-rank p = 0.63 and p = 0.07). Cox proportional hazards analyses showed AVR (HR: 0.1 [0.06–0.15]), Charlson index (HR: 1.13 [1.06–1.21]) and reduced LVEF (HR: 1.9 [1.32–2.73]) to be independent cardiovascular mortality predictors. Conclusions: Gender is not associated with AVR or long-term prognosis. Cardiovascular mortality was associated with older age, more comorbidity and worse LVEF.