Implementation of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in France

Abstract Background Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has emerged as an alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), but unbiased data regarding evolution of the treatment of patients with aortic stenosis at the nationwide level are scarce. Objectives This study sought to evaluate the number of aortic valve replacements (AVRs) performed in France, changes over time, and the effect of the adoption of TAVR. Methods Based on a French administrative hospital-discharge database, the study collected all consecutive AVRs performed in France between 2007 and 2015. Results A total of 131,251 interventions were performed: 109,317 (83%) SAVR and 21,934 (17%) TAVR. AVR linearly increased (from 10,892 to 18,704; p for trend  Conclusions The number of AVRs markedly increased in France between 2007 and 2015 due to the wide adoption of TAVR, which represented one-third of all AVRs in 2015. Patients’ profile improved, suggesting that patients are referred earlier, and in-hospital mortality declined in all AVR subsets. Despite a worse clinical profile, the immediate outcome of TAVR compared favorably to isolated SAVR in patients >75 years of age. The results may have major implications for clinical practice and policymakers.