A review of outcome following valve surgery for rheumatic heart disease in Australia

Abstract

BackgroundGlobally, rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remains an important cause of heart disease. In Australia it particularly affects younger Indigenous and older non-Indigenous Australians. Despite its impact there is limited understanding of the factors influencing outcome following surgery for RHD.MethodsThe Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons Cardiac Surgery Database was analysed to assess outcomes following surgical procedures for RHD and non-RHD valvular disease. The association with demographics, co-morbidities, pre-operative status, valve(s) affected and operative procedure was evaluated.ResultsOutcome of 1384 RHD and 15843 non-RHD valve procedures was analysed. RHD patients had longer ventilation, experienced fewer strokes and had more readmissions to hospital and anticoagulant complications. Mortality following RHD surgery at 30 days was 3.1 % (95 % CI 2.2 – 4.3), 5 years 15.3 % (11.7 – 19.5) and 10 years 25.0 % (10.7 – 44.9). Mortality following non-RHD surgery at 30 days was 4.3 % (95 % CI 3.9 - 4.6), 5 years 17.6 % (16.4 - 18.9) and 10 years 39.4 % (33.0 - 46.1). Factors independently associated with poorer longer term survival following RHD surgery included older age (OR1.03/additional year, 95 % CI 1.01 – 1.05), concomitant diabetes (OR 1.7, 95 % CI 1.1 – 2.5) and chronic kidney disease (1.9, 1.2 – 2.9), longer invasive ventilation time (OR 1.7 if greater than median value, 1.1– 2.9) and prolonged stay in hospital (1.02/additional day, 1.01 – 1.03). Survival in Indigenous Australians was comparable to that seen in non-Indigenous Australians.ConclusionIn a large prospective cohort study we have demonstrated survival following RHD valve surgery in Australia is comparable to earlier studies. Patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease, were at particular risk of poorer long-term survival. Unlike earlier studies we did not find pre-existing atrial fibrillation, being an Indigenous Australian or the nature of the underlying valve lesion were independent predictors of survival.

Outcome following valve surgery in Australia: development of an enhanced database module

“…Our analysis of the current database [6] has challenged the findings of earlier studies of surgical outcome in other settings. The finding that neither prior nor new post-operative AF was found to be an independent predictor of survival in RHD versus non-RHD valve surgery highlights the importance of considering these conditions as separate entities in the setting of valve surgery [28].…”

“…The finding that neither prior nor new post-operative AF was found to be an independent predictor of survival in RHD versus non-RHD valve surgery highlights the importance of considering these conditions as separate entities in the setting of valve surgery [28]. Our earlier finding that poorer preoperative clinical status, based on NYHA class, was also not independently associated with longer term survival requires further investigation with the addition of other cardiac and non-cardiac factors that influence NYHA-measured function to assess an independent effect on survival [6]. The addition of medications, echocardiography results and longer-term follow-up will also assist in strengthening the understanding regarding how pre-operative comorbidities and medication use influence outcome with the ultimate aim of enhance the timing and management of patient with advanced valvular heart disease.…”

“…The data collected will be analysed using multivariable, logistic and Cox proportional hazard models to identify independent factors associated with the outcome previously analysed [5, 6] and short and long term outcome. This will be undertaken using IBM SPSS Statistics 20 (IBM, New York, USA) and STATA Release 14 (StataCorp LP, Texas, USA).…”

“…We have previously analysed data [6] from the Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons (ANZSCTS) National Cardiac Surgery Database [7] and have identified differences in surgical management for RHD and non­RHD valve disease and for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and non­Indigenous Australian patients [5]. In addition we have been able to identify factors associated with outcomes following valve surgery for RHD and non­RHD related valve disease [5, 6, 8].…”

“…In addition we have been able to identify factors associated with outcomes following valve surgery for RHD and non­RHD related valve disease [5, 6, 8]. …”