Abstract
Aortic valve disease is a lethal condition, once it becomes symptomatic. Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) has, for a long time, been the only treatment option. In patients aged 85 and older, the consequences of SAVR have rarely been investigated. A total of 681 octogenarian patients were subdivided into a group with patients between 80 and 84 years (n = 527) and a group with patients aged 85 or older (n = 154). For each group, the temporal referral pattern, preoperative comorbid profile, operative data, postoperative need for resources, and adverse postoperative events including 30-day mortality and long-term survival were determined using the chi-squared test, Student's t-test, and log-rank test. For both age groups, the predictors for mortality were identified using a logistic regression analysis. In the oldest patient group, there were significantly more prior episodes of heart failure (75/154 vs. 148/527) and a greater need for urgent SAVR (45/150 vs. 109/515). The operative data and the need for postoperative resources were comparable, but the 30-day mortality was almost twice as high (24/154 vs. 45/527). The need for urgent SAVR was twice as high in the oldest group (odds ratio of 3.12 vs. 6.64). A logistic regression analysis for all 681 patients showed that age over 85 ranked fourth of six predictors for 30-day mortality. Five-year survival was favorable for both groups (67.8 ± 2.1% vs. 60.0 ± 4.3%). A Cox proportional hazard analysis failed to identify an age over 85 as a predictor for long-term mortality. Aortic valve disease and its effect on the left ventricle seemed to be more advanced in the highest age group. The mortality rate was almost double the need for urgent SAVR. This can be avoided by obtaining an earlier referral.