Abstract
BACKGROUND: Stroke is a serious complication after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), yet contemporary data from community hospital practice are limited. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between valve type and the risk of stroke within 1 year after contemporary TAVR in community practice. METHODS: We analyzed patients who underwent TAVR across CommonSpirit Health hospitals from January 2021 to February 2023 using data from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS)/American College of Cardiology Transcatheter Valve Therapy Registry. Valve type was categorized as balloon-expandable valves or self-expanding valves (SEV). The primary outcome was stroke within 1 year. Kaplan-Meier methods were used to compare stroke-free survival between valve types. Baseline differences were adjusted using inverse probability of treatment weighting. Independent predictors of stroke were identified using weighted time-to-event models. RESULTS: A total of 6,663 patients underwent TAVR during the study period; 5,445 (81.7%) received balloon-expandable valve, and 1,218 (18.3%) received SEV. More females received a SEV (56.7% vs 37.5%; P < 0.001). The STS risk score (4.5 ± 3.8 vs 4.0 ± 3.5; P < 0.001) was higher in the SEV group. A total of 87 (1.3%) patients experienced stroke within the study period. The primary endpoint of stroke-free survival at 1 year was not different between valve types (log-rank P = 0.448). After inverse probability of treatment weighting adjustment, valve type was not associated with stroke (adjusted HR: 1.54; 95% CI: 0.79-2.68; P = 0.294). Age, lower body mass index, prior stroke, STS risk, and alternative access were associated with stroke. CONCLUSIONS: In this registry of patients receiving TAVR, valve type did not predict stroke at 1 year. The predominant drivers of stroke were clinical variables: age, STS risk, and a history of stroke.