Past and current cause-specific mortality in Eisenmenger syndrome

Cristel M Sørensen Hjortshøj, Aleksander Kempny, Annette Schophuus Jensen, Keld Sørensen, Edit Nagy, Mikael Dellborg, Bengt Johansson, Virginija Rudiene, Gu Hong, Alexander R Opotowsky, Werner Budts, Barbara J Mulder, Lidia Tomkiewicz-Pajak, Michele D'Alto, Katja Prokšelj, Gerhard-Paul Diller, Konstantinos Dimopoulos, Mette-Elise Estensen, Henrik Holmstrøm, Maila TuranlahtiUlf Thilén, Michael A Gatzoulis, Lars Søndergaard

34 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Aims: Eisenmenger syndrome (ES) is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Therapeutic strategies have changed during the 2000s in conjunction with an emphasis on specialist follow-up. The aim of this study was to determine the cause-specific mortality in ES and evaluate any relevant changes between 1977 and 2015. Methods and results: This is a retrospective, descriptive multicentre study. A total of 1546 patients (mean age 38.7 ± 15.4 years; 36% male) from 13 countries were included. Cause-specific mortality was examined before and after July 2006, 'early' and 'late', respectively. Over a median follow-up of 6.1 years (interquartile range 2.1-21.5 years) 558 deaths were recorded; cause-specific mortality was identified in 411 (74%) cases. Leading causes of death were heart failure (34%), infection (26%), sudden cardiac death (10%), thromboembolism (8%), haemorrhage (7%), and peri-procedural (7%). Heart failure deaths increased in the 'late' relative to the 'early' era (P = 0.032), whereas death from thromboembolic events and death in relation to cardiac and non-cardiac procedures decreased (P = 0.014, P = 0.014, P = 0.004, respectively). There was an increase in longevity in the 'late' vs. 'early' era (median survival 52.3 vs. 35.2 years, P < 0.001). Conclusion: The study shows that despite changes in therapy, care, and follow-up of ES in tertiary care centres, all-cause mortality including cardiac remains high. Patients from the 'late' era, however, die later and from chronic rather than acute cardiac causes, primarily heart failure, whereas peri-procedural and deaths due to haemoptysis have become less common. Lifelong vigilance in tertiary centres and further research for ES are clearly needed.

Original languageEnglish
JournalEuropean Heart Journal
Volume38
Issue number26
Pages (from-to)2060-2067
ISSN0195-668X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 7 Jul 2017

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