Severe mitral regurgitation in nonagenarians: Impact of symptomatic status, frailty and etiology on management and outcomes

Abstract

BackgroundData regarding mitral regurgitation (MR) in extremely elderly patients are limited. The aim of the present study was to assess symptomatic status, frailty, etiology and outcomes for nonagenarians with severe MR. MethodsSingle-center cohort study of patients ≥90 years of age with at least 3+ MR on echocardiography between September 2010 and August 2018. Out of a total of 11,998 patients with at least 3+ MR, 267 patients were included in the present study. ResultsThe average age was 93.5 ± 2.6 years, and 57% were female. At baseline, 88% were symptomatic, with mean Charlson co-morbidity index of 6 ± 2 points, and mean frailty score of 2.9 ± 1.4 points. Primary MR was present in 50%, secondary in 47%, and prosthetic valve dysfunction in 3%. Among patients with primary MR, the most common etiology was mitral annular calcification (58%). In comparison, the most common etiology of secondary MR was atrial functional MR (52%). Of all, 95% were treated conservatively, and 5% underwent interventional management. Among 253 patients who had follow-up data with a median follow-up of 14 months (25th–75th interquartile range: 3–31 months), 191 patients (75%) died. Mortality trended higher in the conservative group versus the interventional group (60% vs. 22%, log-rank P = 0.063). ConclusionsMost nonagenarians with significant MR were symptomatic at presentation, had elevated Charlson co-morbidity index and frailty scores. Etiologies of MR were almost equally distributed between primary and secondary causes. The vast majority of nonagenarians with significant MR were conservatively managed.