Prevalence, Clinical Characteristics and Prognosis of Vascular Disease in Valvular Heart Surgery: A Multi-Centre Study

Background: The clinical significance of atherosclerotic disease in more than one vascular bed, that is, polyvascular disease, in valvular heart surgery remains poorly understood. This study aims to establish the prevalence and prognostic value of polyvascular disease for long-term outcomes after valvular heart surgery.

Methods: Patients receiving valvular heart surgery at two tertiary centres from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2021 were identified. We examined the effect of atherosclerotic disease in three major vascular beds, including coronary artery disease (CAD), ischaemic cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) and peripheral vascular disease (PVD), on postoperative major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and all-cause mortality. Polyvascular disease was defined as atherosclerotic disease in ≥2 vascular beds.

Results: Of 3843 patients (mean age 58 ± 13 years; 52% male), 1266 (33%) had atherosclerotic disease in ≥1 vascular beds, including 207 (5.4%) with polyvascular disease. Patients with vascular disease were older with more comorbidities, higher surgical risk and more aortic stenosis. Over a median follow-up of 6.37 years (IQR: 3.40–9.54), patients with polyvascular disease had the greatest long-term MACE risk [HR: 1.68 (1.35–2.10)], followed by those with monovascular disease [HR: 1.43 (1.24–1.65)]. Both monovascular and polyvascular disease independently predicted mortality and MACE. Patients with extracardiac vascular disease had independently greater long-term MACE risk than CAD [HR: 1.56 (1.27–1.92)].

Conclusion: Patients undergoing valvular heart surgery exhibit a high prevalence of vascular disease. The risk of adverse outcomes rises with both the presence and extent of vascular disease, and extracardiac vascular disease confers greater risk of MACE than CAD.