Introduction
Aortic valve stenosis is the most common acquired native valve disease in Western countries and its prevalence increases with age [
1,
2]. Consequently, surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) is increasingly performed in elderly patients [
1,
2]. In these elderly patients not only the survival and operation-related mortality and morbidity are important, but also the quality of life (QoL) [
3,
4]. Essential in the evaluation of QoL post-cardiac surgery is the comparison of preoperative and postoperative QoL. In a previous paper we pointed out the lack of preoperative QoL information in several QoL studies [
5]. A recent review concerning QoL benefits after aortic valve surgery in the elderly confirmed that most studies are retrospective and do not compare baseline QoL with postoperative QoL [
6]. Generally, QoL at a certain moment in the follow-up is compared with QoL of an aged-matched general population [
5,
6]. In this way QoL post-intervention is compared with QoL of a normal population, and not the impact of the intervention on QoL. Moreover, these studies are in a matter of speaking misleading, because they only take into account QoL of patients who survived the follow-up period.
The intention of this study is to evaluate the hospital mortality, major morbidity, survival and QoL of patients older than 75 years undergoing elective isolated SAVR by comparing preoperative baseline QoL with QoL scores at 1 and 2 years after surgery.
Results
The 138 patients in our study had a mean age of 79.5 ± 2.8, (75.1–87.5) years, and 56 (41 %) were older than 80 years. Eighty-four patients were female (61 %).The mean logistic EuroSCORE was 9.7 ± 5.4, (4.4–38.9).
Morbidity and survival
Major morbidity concerns 11 resternotomies, 3 patients with renal failure and 5 patients with prolonged ventilation. The composite morbidity score was 11.5 % (16/138). Hospital mortality was 2.8 % (n = 4). Our 1-year mortality was 9.3 %, as 9 patients died during the first year after hospital stay. In the second postoperative year another 3 patients died. The 1- and 2-year overall survival rates were 90 and 88 %, respectively.
Quality of life
We received complete preoperative QoL and physical activity information for 115/138 patients (83.3 %). The mean EQ-5D was 0.69 ± 0.27 (− 0.11–1.0) and the mean VAS 58.9 ± 20.6 (0–100). Based on the CCHP criteria, 50 patients (43.8 %) could be classified as sedentary and 65 patients (56.2 %) as active.
No statistically significant differences were detected between the 115 patients with preoperative QoL information and the 23 patients without preoperative QoL information with respect to age, percentage of female patients, logistic EuroSCORE risk, the percentage of morbidity score and hospital mortality (Table
1).
Table 1
Baseline characteristics of the population with preoperative QoL information (QoL group) and the population without preoperative QoL information (excluded)
Age (years) | | | 0.530 |
Mean ± SD (range) | 79.3 ± 2.9 (75.1–87.5) | 79.7 ± 3.4 (75.1–87.6) | |
Median [IQR] | 79.0 [76.9–81.2] | 79.2 [77.7–81.5] | |
Female gender | 70 (61 %) | 14 (57 %) | 0.697 |
Logistic EuroSCORE | | | 0.677 |
Mean ± SD (range) | 9.7 ± 5.0 (4.3–31.6) | 10.2 ± 7.1 (6.3–18.9) | |
Median [IQR] | 7.9 [6.3–11.2] | 10.0 [6.4–9.4] | |
Morbidity score | 14 (12.7 %) | 2 (8.6 %) | 0.402 |
Hospital mortality | 4 (4.3 %) | 0 | 0.308 |
Thirteen of the 115 patients with preoperative QoL information died during the first postoperative year. Table
2 compares age, percentage of female patients, preoperative logistic EuroSCORE risk, preoperative physical activity level, preoperative EQ-5D and EQ-VAS between patients who died and patients who survived the first postoperative year. Patients who died in the first year were more often sedentary (
p = 0.046) and had a lower preoperative EQ-5D (
p = 0.017).
Table 2
Characteristics of the population with preoperative QoL information (QoL group) and proven 1-year survival versus the QoL group who died within the first postoperative year
Age (years) | | | 0.639 |
Mean ± SD (range) | 79.3 ± 2.9,(75.1–87.5) | 79.7 ± 3.4 (75.1–87.4) | |
Median [IQR] | 78.8 [76.9–81.2] | 79.2 [77.7–80.6] | |
Female gender | 61 (59 %) | 9 (69 %) | 0.512 |
PA level: sedentary | 41 (40 %) | 9 (69 %) | 0.046 |
Logistic EuroSCORE | | | 0.249 |
Mean ± SD (range) | 9.5 ± 5.0 (4.3–31.6) | 11.2 ± 4.1 (6.3–18.9) | |
Median [IQR] | 7.3 [6.2–10.7] | 11.0 [7.3–14.1] | |
EQ-5D—preoperative | | | 0.017 |
Mean ± SD (range) | 0.71 ± 0.27 (− 0.11–1.0) | 0.52 ± 0.29 (0.7–1.0) | |
Median [IQR] | 0.80 [0.65–0.87] | 0.41 [0.29–0.82] | |
EQ-VAS—preoperative | | | 0.128 |
Mean ± SD (range) | 59.8 ± 20.3 (0–100) | 51.5 ± 17.2 (20–75) | |
Median [IQR] | 60 [50–75] | 50 [40–70] | |
One-year postoperative QoL information was delivered by 102 patients (89 %); however, postoperative QoL information was complete in only of 70 of these patients (69 %). Table
3 presents the group of 70 patients with 1-year QoL information versus the group of 32 patients without QoL information. The proportion of sedentary patients was significantly higher in the group of patients without 1-year QoL information: 66 versus 29 % (
p = 0.001). The logistic EuroSCORE tended to a higher risk for the group without QoL information 10.8 ± 6.6 versus 8.9 ± 4.1 (
p = 0.071). The baseline EQ-5D and EQ-VAS values were lower for the patients without 1-year QoL information; however, these differences were not statistically significant.
Table 3
Characteristics of the population with preoperative QoL information (QoL group) and proven 1-year survival with QoL information versus the group without QoL information 1-year postoperatively
Age (years) | | | 0.287 |
Mean ± SD (range) | 79.3 ± 2.8 (75.1–87.5) | 78.8 ± 2.9 (75.1–85.3) | |
Median [IQR] | 79.9 [77.1–81.4] | 78.3 [76.6–80.3] | |
Female gender | 39 (55 %) | 22 (69 %) | 0.213 |
PA level: sedentary | 20 (29 %) | 21 (66 %) | 0.001 |
Logistic EuroSCORE | | | 0.071 |
Mean ± SD (range) | 8.9 ± 4.1 (4.71–21.53) | 10.8 ± 6.6 (4.4–31.6) | |
Median [IQR] | 7.1 [6.2–10.1] | 8.5 [6.5–11.9] | |
EQ-5D–preoperative | | | 0.460 |
Mean ± SD (range) | 0.73 ± 0.24 (0.6–1.0) | 0.68 ± 0.32 (− 0.11–1.0) | |
Median [IQR] | 0.79 [0.65–0.84] | 0.80 [0.58–0.89] | |
EQ_VAS preoperative | | | 0.156 |
Mean ± SD (range) | 61.8 ± 18.8 (0–100) | 55.6 ± 22.9 (0–95) | |
Median [IQR] | 60 [50–76] | 60 [40–70] | |
The 70 patients with complete preoperative and 1-year postoperative QoL information showed an increase for the EQ-5D from 0.73 ± 0.24, (0.07–1.00) preoperatively to 0.77 ± 0.23, (0.06–1.00) postoperatively (p = 0.274). The EQ-VAS increased from 61.8 ± 18.9, (0–100) preoperatively to 67.4 ± 21.5, (0–100) postoperatively, which tended to significance (p = 0.058).
Two years after surgery, 16 patients had died, so only 99 patients were able to deliver information about 2-year postoperative QoL. The 16 patients who died tended to be older (
p = 0.087), had a higher percentage of sedentary patients (69 versus 39 %,
p = 0.015), a trend to a lower preoperative EQ-VAS (
p = 0.087) and a statistically significantly lower EQ-5D (0.51 ± 0.27 versus 0.72 ± 0.27,
p = 0.006) than the patients who survived the first 2 postoperative years (Table
4).
Table 4
Characteristics of the population with preoperative QoL information (QoL group) and proven 2-year survival versus the QoL group who died within the first two postoperative years
Age (years) | | | 0.087 |
Mean ± SD (range) | 79.2 ± 2.8 (75.1–86.6) | 80.1 ± 3.2 (75.1–87.1) | |
Median [IQR] | 78.8 [76.9–81.1] | 79.1 [78.1–81.9] | |
Female gender | 59 (60 %) | 11 (69 %) | 0.486 |
PA level: sedentary | 39 (39 %) | 11 (69 %) | 0.015 |
Logistic EuroSCORE | | | 0.176 |
Mean ± SD (range) | 9.4 ± 5.1 (4.3–31.6) | 11.3 ± 3.9 (6.3–18.9) | |
Median [IQR] | 7.2 [6.2–10.7] | 11 [7.6–14.5] | |
EQ-5D-preoperative | | | 0.006 |
Mean ± SD (range) | 0.72 ± 0.27 (− 0.11–1.0) | 0.51 ± 0.27 (0.07–1.0) | |
Median [IQR] | 0.80 [0.00–0.89] | 0.49 [0.25–0.77] | |
EQ-VAS–preoperative | | | 0.087 |
Mean ± SD (range) | 60.1 ± 20.1 (0–100) | 50.9 ± 18.6 (20–80) | |
Median [IQR] | 60 [62–80] | 50 [40–70] | |
The 2-year postoperative QoL information was complete in only 57 of the 99 patients (58 %). Table
5 shows that there is no statistically significant difference for age, gender ratio, logistic EuroSCORE risk, EQ-5D and EQ-VAS between the patients with or without 2-year QoL information, with the exception of a statistically significantly higher proportion of sedentary patients without 2-year QoL information (52 versus 30 %,
p = 0.021).
Table 5
Characteristics of the population with preoperative Qol information (QoL group) and proven 2-year survival with QoL information versus the group without QoL information 2 years postoperatively
Age (years) | | | 0.543 |
Mean ± SD (range) | 79.4 ± 2.8 (75.1–86.3) | 79.0 ± 2.8 (75.1–86.6) | |
Median [IQR] | 78.7 [77.1–81.3] | 78.7 [76.6–80.3] | |
Female gender | 32 (56 %) | 27 (64 %) | 0.389 |
PA level: sedentary | 17 (30 %) | 22 (52 %) | 0.021 |
Log. EuroSCORE | | | 0.640 |
Mean ± SD (range) | 9.2 ± 5.1 (4.8–30.6) | 9.7 ± 5.0 (4,3–31,6) | |
Median [IQR] | 7.1 [6.1–10.6] | 8.2 [6.5–11.8] | |
EQ-5D-preoperative | | | 0.879 |
Mean ± SD (range) | 0.72 ± 0.245 (0.0–1.0) | 0.72 ± 0.28 (− 0.11–1.0) | |
Median [IQR] | 0.80 [0.65–0.85] | 0.80 [0.65–0.89] | |
EQ_VAS-preoperative | | | 0.533 |
Mean ± SD (range) | 59.1 ± 21.5 (0–100) | 61.6 ± 18.1 (25–95) | |
Median [IQR] | 60 [50–75] | 60 [40–70] | |
The 57 patients with complete preoperative and 2-year postoperative QoL information showed a trend to an increase for the EQ-5D from 0.72 ± 0.25 (0.80), 0.07–1.00 preoperative to 0.77 ± 0.24 (0.02–1.00) postoperative (p = 0.117). The EQ-VAS significantly increased from 59.1 ± 21.5 (0–100) preoperatively to 67.4 ± 21.5 (0–100) postoperatively (p = 0.024).
Discussion
Our study population has a mean age of 79 years and a calculated mean operative risk of 9.7. This risk is comparable with the calculated mean logistic EuroSCORE risk of 8.2 for patients undergoing isolated SAVR in the Netherlands, as described by Siregar et al. [
15]. Notably, the study by Siregar et al. concerns patients of all ages and both elective and non-elective operations, whereas our study includes only elective surgery and patients older than 75 years. The same remark concerns our evaluation of the hospital mortality of 2.8 % and a morbidity, composite score of 11.4 versus the 3.1 % (IQR 2.4–4.0 %) and 17.8 % (14.5–21.6 %) as presented by the STS as composite measure for isolated SAVR [
8]. These data confirm, as in several other studies, that SAVR can be performed in elderly patients with acceptable hospital mortality and morbidity [
6].
The preoperative QoL questionnaire was completed by 83.3 % of the patients. It is already exceptional that we have this preoperative QoL information whereas most studies only have postoperative QoL information [
5,
6]. Furthermore, the percentage of 83.3 % is high, even higher than in our overall patient population (71.4 %) [
16]. In view of the ongoing (preoperative) discussion between cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and patients about the benefits of the surgery in terms of the postoperative survival and QoL, these patients may be more willing to complete the questionnaire.
We observed no difference for the studied variables between patients who completed the QoL questionnaire and those who did not. Thus, we did not exclude the most fragile patients in the specific QoL evaluation. The preoperative values of EQ-VAS and EQ-5D were comparable with our previous study concerning patients aged 70 years and older [
17]. The available information on preoperative physically active levels in our study provides additional insights.
For the evaluation of the QoL 1-year postoperatively we first evaluated the characteristics of the 13 patients who did not survive the first postoperative year. In comparison with the patients who did survive the first year, these patients were at higher risk, although this was not statistically significant. Moreover, the proportion of sedentary patients was significantly higher in the group of patients who did not survive in this group. The EQ-5D and EQ-VAS were significantly and non-significantly lower, respectively. Secondly we evaluated the 32 patients who survived the first postoperative year, but who did not complete their 1-year postoperative QoL questionnaire, the so-called dropouts [
5,
16]. In comparison with the patients with complete 1-year QOL information, we see the same trend as in the group of patients who died: higher risk, a significantly higher percentage of sedentary patients and lower preoperative EQ-5D and EQ-VAS. The patients with preoperative and postoperative QoL information show a non-statistically significant increase of the EQ-5D and an increase tending towards significance of the EQ-VAS.
After the second follow-up year we notice the same trends as during the first postoperative year. The patients who died were older and at higher risk, were significantly more often sedentary and had a significantly lower preoperative EQ-5D. Also the percentage of sedentary patients among the dropouts was significantly higher. When comparing preoperative QoL with 2-year postoperative QoL, we found a statistically significant increase in the EQ-VAS, however not in the EQ-5D.
That the increase in QoL is mainly due to the more subjective patient perspective (EQ-VAS) was also observed in our previous study [
17]. Other reports confirm good QoL post SAVR in the elderly; however, most of these studies were based on comparison of a patient population that survived SAVR with an age- and sex-matched general population [
6]. Our study confirms also and again, that missing data in QoL studies are not at random [
18]. Also in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVI), where QoL is an important goal, [
19] we have the same problem. In the systematic review published by Shan et al., only one report concerning TAVI patients compares really preoperative QoL versus postoperative QoL [
20].
Our study has some limitations. First, our study is a single-centre experience and concerns a limited patient population. Second, the EuroQOL is not frequently used in cardiac surgery research; however, it is a validated and internationally accepted scoring system for registration of quality of life.
Based on our results, we conclude that SAVR can be performed in patients older than 75 years with an acceptable hospital mortality, morbidity and short-term survival. QoL increases after SAVR, patients feel better and subjectively experience a better quality of life. However, over time several patients are lost for QoL evaluation, and the results in these patients may be of particular interest.