Non-cardiac aspects of aortic stenosis in the elderly: A review

• Published in: Revista española de geriatría y gerontología Vol. 52; no. 2; pp. 87 - 92
• Main Authors: Álvarez-Fernández, Baldomero, Formiga, Francesç, de Mora-Martín, Manuel, Calleja, Fernando, Gómez-Huelgas, Ricardo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Spain 01.03.2017
• Subjects: Aged; Aortic Valve Stenosis - complications; Aortic Valve Stenosis - diagnosis; Aortic Valve Stenosis - surgery; Humans; Anciano; Aortic stenosis; Estenosis aórtica; Fragilidad; Implante valvular aórtico transcatéter; Transcatheter aortic valve implantation; Elderly; Fragility
• ISSN: 1578-1747
• DOI: 10.1016/j.regg.2016.06.001

Aortic stenosis (AS) is the most frequent valve disease in the elderly population Treatment is valve replacement either by open surgery, or in the case of patients at high surgical risk, by TAVI (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation). However, almost 40% of patients who have undergone TAVI show poor health outcomes, either due to death or because their clinical status does not improved. This review examines the non-cardiac aspects of patients with AS, which may help answer three key questions in order to evaluate this condition pre-surgically: 1) Are the symptoms presented by the patient exclusively explained by the AS, or are there other factors or comorbidities that could justify or increase them?, 2) What possibilities for improvement of health status and quality of life has the patient after the valve replacement?, and 3) How can we reduce the risk of a futile valve replacement?