Bone mineral density and TAVR outcome: A comparative analysis between patients with enhanced and non-enhanced TAVR CT scans

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BackgroundPreprocedural evaluation, including frailty estimation, is crucial in managing patients undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR). This involves mandatory computed tomography (CT) scans for assessing body composition parameters. The impact of low bone mineral density (BMD) on TAVR outcomes remains unclear, especially when measured using both non-enhanced and contrast-enhanced CT scans. ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of low bone mineral density (BMD) on survival following TAVR and to assess the feasibility of BMD measurement conducted with non-enhanced and enhanced TAVR CT scans. MethodsA cohort of consecutive TAVR-scheduled patients (n = 725, November 2015 to March 2022) with available enhanced and non-enhanced CT scans were included. BMD was quantified on a single axial image at the thoracic vertebrae level in both unenhanced and enhanced CT scans, and low BMD was defined as <200 HU. Cox regression was performed for cofounders, which are mainly associated with osteoporosis. ResultsA total of 725 patients were included in the study, with 54.1 % being male and a mean age of 80.7 ± 7.3 years. Out of these, 175 patients died during a median follow-up period of 837 days. Lower BMD in patients assessed using non-enhanced CT scans was significantly associated with reduced survival, even after adjusting for predictors of osteoporosis (p = 0.046). However, this association was not observed in patients who underwent contrast-enhanced CT scans (p = 0.830). ConclusionOpportunistic BMD measurements on non-enhanced TAVR-CT scans are feasible and a predictor for poor adverse after TAVR, providing valuable insights for comprehensive frailty assessments. This underscores the significance of incorporating non-enhanced BMD assessments into the preprocedural evaluations of TAVR patients. However, this association was not observed in contrast-enhanced CT scans.