Abstract
The Get-With-The-Guidelines-Heart-Failure (GWTG-HF) score is a risk assessment tool to predict mortality in patients with heart-failure (HF). We aimed to evaluate the GWTG-HF score for risk stratification in HF patients with tricuspid regurgitation undergoing trans-catheter tricuspid valve repair (TTVR). In total, 181 patients who underwent TTVR via edge-to-edge repair (86%) or annuloplasty (14%) were enrolled. Patients were categorized into a low- (≤ 43 points), intermediate- (44-53 points) and high-risk score groups (≥ 54 points). TTVR led to an improvement of TR (p < 0.0001) and NYHA (p < 0.0001). Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test revealed that higher GWTG-HF scores were associated with reduced rates of event-free survival regarding mortality (96% vs 89% vs 73%, respectively, p = 0.001) and hospitalization for heart failure (HHF) (89% vs 86% vs 74%, respectively, p = 0.026). After adjusting for important variables like renal function, left ventricular ejection fraction and mitral regurgitation, the GWTG-HF score remained an independent predictor of the composite endpoint of HHF or mortality (hazard ratio 1.04 per 1-point increase, p = 0.029). Other remaining predictors were renal function and mitral regurgitation. The GWTG-HF score used as a risk stratification tool of mortality and HHF maintains its prognostic value in a HF population with severe TR undergoing TTVR.