Progression of stenosis severity and aortopathy in adult patients with congenital aortic stenosis

TL;DR

This study tracks how aortic stenosis and aortic dimensions change over time in adults with congenital heart disease, finding that progression is slow and influenced by age and heart remodeling.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into the progression of congenital aortic stenosis in adults and identifies markers for faster disease progression.

Findings

Peak velocity increased by 0.06 m/s per year, independent of baseline severity.

Older age and concentric left ventricular remodeling were linked to faster stenosis progression.

Aortic dimensions grew by 0.4 mm/year, with younger patients showing faster growth.

Abstract

Congenital aortic stenosis (AS) is a heterogeneous disease. However, repeated data describing disease progression is limited, especially in adults. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate progression of peak velocity and aortic dimensions in adult congenital AS patients, identifying markers for fast progression.

Adult patients (aged 18–55 years) with a native aortic valve and at least mild AS at baseline registered in the Dutch CONCOR registry between 2001 and 2019 from all six tertiary expert centers for congenital heart disease were included. Patients with severe aortic regurgitation at baseline or no available echocardiograms during follow-up were excluded. Data on ascending aortic dimensions and peak velocity changes over time were analyzed using mixed models until death, aortic valve replacement or March 1, 2023.

402 patients (63 % male) were included with a median age of 26 [IQR 19–41] years and peak velocity of 3.1 [IQR 2.7–3.6] m/s. Median follow-up time was 6.8 [IQR 3.8–11.6] years. Peak velocity significantly progressed over time with 0.06 ± 0.10 m/s/year (p < 0.001), independent of baseline velocity. Older age and concentric left ventricular (LV) remodeling were associated with faster progression. Mean progression of ascending aortic dimension was 0.4 ± 0.5 mm/year (p < 0.001), with faster progression in younger patients (p = 0.002). No correlation between aortic growth rate and stenosis severity progression was seen (r = 0.001, p = 0.98).

Overall disease progression was slow in adult congenital AS patients, and independent of baseline peak velocity. Progression of stenosis should be monitored more carefully in older patients and patients with signs of concentric LV remodeling.

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