Comparison of Outcomes of Asymptomatic Moderate Aortic Stenosis With Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction in Patients ≥80 Years Versus 70-79 Years Versus <70 Years.

Aortic stenosis (AS) is increasingly diagnosed in the aging population with more studies focused on the prognostic outcomes of severe asymptomatic AS. However, little is known about the outcomes of moderate asymptomatic AS in the elderly population. From 2001 to 2020, 738 consecutive patients with asymptomatic moderate AS with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction were studied. They were allocated according to the age group at the index echocardiography: very elderly (≥80 years), elderly (70 to 79 years) and control group (<70 years). The primary study outcomes were aortic valve replacement (AVR), congestive cardiac failure (CCF) and all-cause mortality. Overall, about one-third of the subjects were in the very elderly, elderly and control groups each. The median follow-up duration was 114.2 (interquartile range, 27.0 to 183.7) months. There was significantly higher all-cause mortality in the very elderly group (47.9%) followed by elderly (34.8%) and control group (21.9%). Similarly, there was significantly higher CCF rates in the very elderly group (5.8%) compared to elderly (5.1%) and control group (2.8%). There were significantly lower rates of AVR offered and completed in the very elderly group compared to control group. Multivariable logistic regression demonstrated that age ≥80 years remained an independent predictor of mortality after adjusting for important prognostic cofounders (Adjusted HR 2.424, 95% CI 1.728 to 3.400, p < 0.001). Cox regression showed no significant difference in mortality between patients ≥80 years with moderate AS compared to a younger age-group ≥70 years with severe AS. In conclusion, very elderly patients of ≥80 years of age with moderate AS have worse prognostic outcomes than their younger counterparts. They share similar unfavorable prognostic outcomes as those of a younger age-group ≥70 years with severe AS. Closer surveillance are warranted in this group of at-risk elderly patients.