Aortic Valve Replacement in Medicare Recipients, 1999–2011

Rates of surgery are rising, and outcomes are improving.

In this large study of more than 80 million Medicare beneficiaries in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services database, investigators examined trends in aortic valve replacement (AVR) surgery between 1999 and 2011. Over the 12-year period, the annual number of patients undergoing AVR rose from 24,568 to 31,380 (an increase of 19 procedures per 100,000 person-years); this was accompanied by increases in prevalence of baseline hypertension, diabetes, and renal failure. The rate of isolated AVR surgery increased 4.1% per year, while the rate of AVR with coronary artery bypass grafting decreased 0.5% per year.

Overall 30-day mortality decreased from 7.6% in 1999 to 4.2% in 2011, with a similar decline in 1-year mortality, both of which we…

Reviewing Author

Howard C. Herrmann, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAffluent Medical; Artedrone; Caranx; Johnson & Johnson; Medtronic; Prolifagen; Wells Fargo

EquityMicrointerventional Devices, Inc.

RoyaltiesUniversity of Pennsylvania

Grant/Research SupportAbbott Vascular; Edwards Lifesciences; Johnson & Johnson; Medtronic

Editorial BoardsCatheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions; Journal of the American College of Cardiology; Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions; JACC Cardiovascular Interventions; JACC Case Reports; JSCAI

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesHeart Valve Collaboratory (Scientific Committee Member, Chair of the Publications Committee)