The prognostic impact of tricuspid regurgitation improvement after left-sided valvular interventions

Abstract Background Tricuspid regurgitation is a common bystander in patients with left-sided valvular heart disease such as mitral regurgitation (MR) or aortic stenosis (AS). Data on the prognostic impact of potential TR improvement after interventions for left sided valvar disease is scarce. Objectives This study aimed to assess incidence and prognostic value of TR improvement after left-sided valvular interventions (M-TEER and TAVI) using merged data from two prospective single-center registries. Methods The merged database included all consecutive patients with symptomatic left-sided valvular heart disease (MR or AS) undergoing either M-TEER or TAVI from 2008 until 2023. The prognostic impact of baseline TR severity and TR improvement was assessed using Kaplan-Meier estimates and stepwise Cox regression. TR improvement was defined as a reduction in TR severity at discharge by at least one grade compared to baseline in patients with ≥moderate TR at baseline. Results A total of 4,461 patients undergoing left-sided valvular interventions (M-TEER: N=663; TAVI: N=3,798) were eligible for study inclusion (age 81.0 years [IQR 76.2-84.7], 52.7% male). TR severity at baseline was none or mild in 70.9% (N=3,161), moderate in 19.4% (N=864), and severe in 9.8% (N=436). Patients with ≥moderate TR at baseline showed significantly higher rates of all-cause mortality (p