Patients at Intermediate Surgical Risk Undergoing Isolated Interventional or Surgical Aortic Valve Implantation for Severe Symptomatic Aortic Valve stenosis: One-Year Results from the German Aortic Valve Registry (GARY)

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is increasingly being used for treatment of severe aortic valve stenosis in patients at intermediate risk for surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). Currently, real-world data comparing indications and clinical outcomes of patients at intermediate surgical risk undergoing isolated TAVR with those undergoing SAVR are scarce. Methods: We compared clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with intermediate surgical risk (Society of Thoracic Surgeon [STS] score 4% - 8%) who underwent isolated TAVR or conventional SAVR within the prospective, all-comers German Aortic Valve Registry (GARY). Results: A total of 7613 patients at intermediate surgical risk underwent isolated TAVR (n = 6469) or SAVR (n = 1144) at 92 sites in Germany between 2012 and 2014. Patients treated by TAVR were significantly older (82.5 ± 5.0 versus 76.6 ± 6.7 years, p<0.001) and had higher risk scores (logistic EuroSCORE: 21.2 ± 12.3% versus 14.2 ± 9.5, p<0.001; STS score:...