Abstract 208: Impact of Symptoms and Degree of Valvular Regurgitation on Patient-perceived Health Status in Patients With Aortic Regurgitation

Abstract

Background: Patients (pts) with severe aortic regurgitation (AI) often present with symptoms of shortness of breath (SOB) or heart failure (HF); however, the effect of these symptoms and severity of aortic regurgitation on patient-perceived health status is unknown. Methods: Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) data were collected using tablet computers from pts presenting for routine outpatient cardiovascular assessment between 6/1/2011 and 8/31/2012 who also underwent echocardiography within 90 days. Pts with other valvular lesions (including aortic stenosis) moderate or greater in severity, congenital heart disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, pericarditis or constriction, cardiac amyloid, sarcoid, restrictive cardiomyopathy, or pulmonary hypertension were excluded. Demographic, clinical, historical, and echocardiographic data was collected as per routine. Multiple linear regression was used to assess the association of this information and valve lesion severity with KCCQ summary score (SS). Results: 590 pts [age 61.9±13.8 years, 363 (61.5%) men, 132 (22%) with prior aortic valve surgery] were identified; 452 with mild, 86 with moderate and 52 with severe AI. Mean KCCQ SS was 74.5±23.7; 74.3±23.0 with mild AI, 73.8±26.2 with moderate AI, and 76.7±19.4 with severe AI (p=NS). SOB was present in 290 pts (49%, KCCQ SS 65.3±23.7), HF in 43 (7.3%, KCCQ SS 50.1±22.3) and both in 36 pts (KCCQ SS 47.0±21.7). After adjusting for multiple factors, linear regression (r2=0.28, p<0.001) revealed that the presence of SOB (β: -13.841, p<0.001) and heart failure (β:-19.484, p<0.001) were associated with lower SS; however, the degree of AI and history of aortic valve surgery were not associated with KCCQ SS. Male sex (β: 7.279, p=0.001), heart rate (β: -0.223, p=0.005), prior CAD (β: -4.364, p=0.038) and BMI (β:-0.357, p=0.035) were also significant in this model. Pt age, presence of atrial fibrillation, angina, hypertension, diabetes, prior CAD, renal disease, cancer, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, left ventricular diastolic dimension and ejection fraction were not significant predictors. Conclusions: In stable outpatients with AI, KCCQ scores correlate with the presence of shortness of breath and heart failure symptoms, but are not affected by the degree of AI or history of aortic valve surgery. Symptoms rather than diagnosis drives patient perceived health status.