The impact of age in the immediate and long-term outcomes of percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty.

BACKGROUND Differences in age, clinical characteristics, and valve morphology may account for controversial results of percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty (PMV). METHODS We have previously reported the immediate and long-term clinical follow-up (50 +/- 45 months) of 879 patients who underwent PMV at the Massachusetts General Hospital. In the present study, we used this database to determine the impact of age in the immediate and long-term outcome of PMV. For purpose of analysis, these patients were divided into four age groups: group 1 (< or =35 years), group 2 (36-55 years), group 3 (56-75 years), and group 4 (>75 years). RESULTS The incidence of atrial fibrillation, calcified valves under fluoroscopy, higher echocardiographic score, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV and pre-PMV mitral regurgitation (MR) increased with patient's age. As patients became older, a lower post-PMV mitral valve area (2.1 +/- 0.7, 2.0 +/- 0.6, 1.8 +/- 0.6, and 1.6 +/- 0.6; P < 0.0001) and progressive decrease in procedural success (81.4%, 80.5%, 65.3%, and 53%; P < 0.0001) were observed. Younger age was identified as an independent predictor of PMV success by multiple stepwise logistic regression (odds ratio [OR]: 3.33; confidence interval [CI]: 1.41-7.69, P = 0.006). Furthermore, age was identified as an independent predictor of long-term events by Cox regression analysis (risk ratio [RR]: 1.02; CI: 1.01-1.03, P < 0.00001). However, the effect of age seemed to be blunted by the morphology of the valve at follow-up, as patients with echocardiogram score >8 in groups 2, 3, and 4 presented similar combined event-free survival (death, mitral valve replacement, or redo PMV). CONCLUSION Age is an important predictor of immediate and long-term outcomes after PMV, particularly in patients with optimal mitral valve morphology. (