Incidence, predictors, and prognostic impact of rehospitalization after transcatheter aortic valve implantation

AIMS: Despite rehospitalization being common after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), an in-depth analysis on this topic is missing. This study sought to report on the incidence, predictors, and prognostic impact of rehospitalization within one year following TAVI.

METHODS AND RESULTS: All consecutive patients treated with TAVI between 2016 and 2020 in East Denmark were included. Medical records of all patients were reviewed to validate rehospitalizations up to 1 year after discharge from the index admission. The study population consisted of 1,397 patients, of whom 615 (44%) had an unplanned rehospitalization within the first year post-TAVI. The rehospitalization incidence rate was 3-fold higher in the early period (within 30 days) compared with the late period (30 days to 1 year; 2.5 vs. 0.8 per patient-year, respectively; p < 0.001). Predictors of early unplanned rehospitalization were procedure-related complications and prior stroke, whereas late unplanned rehospitalization was associated with pre-existing comorbidities. Predictors of HF rehospitalization included ischemic heart disease, the extent of cardiac damage, atrial fibrillation, and NYHA class at baseline. HF rehospitalization within 30 days and 1-year post-TAVI was associated with a markedly increased 1-year and 5-year mortality risk (hazard ratio (HR) of 4.3 and 3.2 for 1-year mortality and HR of 3.2 and 2.9 for 5-year mortality, respectively; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Rehospitalization after TAVI is frequent in real-world practice. Early rehospitalization is mostly procedure-related whereas late rehospitalization is related to pre-existing comorbidities. HF rehospitalization is associated with poor long-term survival and could be validated as a prognostically relevant endpoint for TAVI trials.