Sex-Based Patterns and Trends in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

Overview

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), also called transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), has transformed the treatment of severe aortic stenosis, especially in older adults and patients at higher surgical risk. This nationwide Medicare study examined whether men and women differed in how often they received TAVI, the complications they experienced around the procedure, and their long-term outcomes over a 10-year period in the United States.

The findings highlight a persistent and evolving sex-based pattern. Women made up a smaller share of TAVI recipients over time, experienced more periprocedural complications, yet had slightly better long-term survival than men. These results underscore the importance of sex-specific evaluation and follow-up in structural heart disease.