TAVR in Africa linked to high success rate, but above-average risks
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) adoption in Africa has lagged behind many other parts of the world. According to new data published in the International Journal of Cardiology, the procedural success rate for TAVR procedures performed in the continent is now quite high, but there is an above-average risk of mortality and other adverse events.[1]
“The South African Society of Cardiovascular Intervention and the Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons of South Africa have recently published updated guidelines on TAVR in South Africa, highlighting the need for expanded access to TAVR and the importance of local outcomes data,” wrote first author Ashraf Ahmed, MD, a resident physician with Bridgeport Hospital, and colleagues. “As TAVR expands to new geographic areas, it is crucial to evaluate outcomes in diverse patient populations and healthcare systems to ensure optimal results and appropriate patient selection.”
The study’s authors performed a meta-analysis of seven different observational studies published through August 2024. These studies covered a total of 704 TAVR patients who underwent treatment in South Africa, Egypt, Tunisia or Algeria. The mean patient age was 79 years old, and 52% of patients were men. The mean Logistic EuroScore was 25.57%, suggesting these data represent patients who presented for treatment with a “relatively high” risk profile.
Overall, the procedural success rate for these patients was 91% and average length of stay was 5.2 days. The rates of in-hospital mortality, stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) and major bleeding were 5%, 2% and 8%, respectively, and 7% of patients required a permanent pacemaker (PPM) following treatment.
The one-year mortality rate, meanwhile, was 11%. The one-year stroke/TIA rate was 6%.
“While the procedural success rate is high, the clinical outcomes are less favorable in comparison to international registries in the developed countries such as the United States and Germany,” the authors wrote, adding that the same is also true for in-hospital mortality and stroke/TIA risks.
The authors also highlighted the importance of tracking TAVR data in Africa as well as any other parts of the world where adoption was initially slow.
“This study emphasizes the need for further research to further explore the outcomes of TAVR in Africa and address the disparities in cardiovascular care globally,” they wrote.
Click here to read the full study.
Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.