THURSDAY NEWS TIP
May 10, 2012
Embargoed for 11 a.m. ET
ATLANTA, May 10, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A significant increase in the number of heart valve repair and replacement surgeries in patients age 85 and older has been accompanied by an unexpected improvement in outcomes, with fewer deaths and serious complications, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Quality of Care and Outcomes Research 2012 Scientific Sessions.
Researchers reviewed the records of more than 156,000 Medicare beneficiaries undergoing mitral valve repair or replacement between 1999 and 2008 and found the overall rate of procedures was relatively stable. But the percentage of those 85 and older undergoing procedures increased by 38 percent (7.5 percent in 1999 to 12 percent in 2008) and mitral valve repair almost doubled.
Such procedures carry special risks for older patients. However, researchers found that deaths within 30 days dropped by more than half, from 10.6 percent to 5.1 percent, and one-year mortality fell from 20.3 percent to 13.3 percent in the over-85 group, a relative decline of 34.5 percent over the ten-year study period. Similar improvements were seen across all age groups, although it is unclear if improved operative techniques or other management strategies were responsible.
Author disclosures and funding information are on the abstracts.
Statements and conclusions of study authors presented at American Heart Association scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the association's policy or position. The association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. The association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific association programs and events. The association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and device corporations are available at www.heart.org/corporatefunding.
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