J Cardiothorac Surg. 2026 Apr 24. doi: 10.1186/s13019-026-04170-1. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Given the systemic nature of connective tissue diseases (CTD), open surgical intervention for aortic stenosis is often considered high risk, making transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) a potentially preferable alternative. However, data on the impact of CTD on TAVR outcomes remain limited. Therefore, we conducted a nationwide analysis using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) to examine trends and in-hospital outcomes of TAVR in patients with CTD in the United States.
METHODS: A total of 90,298 patients undergoing TAVR between 2016 and 2022 were identified, representing over 451,000 weighted hospitalizations, including 3,821 (4.2%) with CTD. Multivariable regression was used to adjust for demographic, clinical, and hospital-level characteristics. CTD patients were more frequently female and had higher comorbidity indices, although many differences were small in absolute magnitude.
RESULTS: In-hospital mortality was comparable between CTD and non-CTD groups (1.0% vs. 1.2%, p = 0.345). Rates of permanent pacemaker implantation and major complications, including vascular events, were similar. CTD patients demonstrated modestly shorter length of stay and lower inflation-adjusted hospitalization costs. Lower rates of cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrest, and mechanical ventilation were observed in the CTD cohort. In-hospital mortality declined significantly over time in the overall cohort, with a similar directional trend in CTD patients that did not reach statistical significance, likely due to smaller sample size.
CONCLUSION: Overall, TAVR appears to be a safe and feasible therapeutic option in patients with CTD, with outcomes comparable to those without CTD.
PMID:42032618 | DOI:10.1186/s13019-026-04170-1
