Aortic insufficiency causes symptomatic heart failure during left ventricular assist device support

De novo aortic insufficiency is often documented during long-term left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support, despite the absence of aortic insufficiency at the time of LVAD implantation. However, whether aortic insufficiency affects long-term mortality and symptomatic heart failure in LVAD-supported patients remains controversial. We aimed to examine whether aortic insufficiency development influenced mortality and symptomatic heart failure following LVAD implantation. Fifty-three patients who underwent durable LVAD implantation between January 1, 2008 and April 31, 2017 were retrospectively examined in a single center institute. After discharge, we performed the echocardiographic examination in accordance with the Japanese registry for the mechanically assisted circulatory support protocol. Aortic insufficiency was graded on an interval scale (severe = 4, moderate = 3, mild = 2, trivial or none = 1). Kaplan-Meier estimates for long-term mortality at the follow-up were generated. We used a logistic regression model to identify risk factors for symptomatic heart failure. The overall median duration of LVAD support was 856.3 ± 430.8 days (range, 12-1,744 days). We did not observe a significant difference in long-term mortality in patients with aortic insufficiency ≥ 3 grade compared with patients with aortic insufficiency < 3 grade (P = 0.767; log-rank). Aortic insufficiency was associated with an increased risk for heart failure event after discharge (odds ratio, 4.12; confidence interval, 1.48-16.93; P = 0.005). Aortic insufficiency was an independent risk factor for symptomatic heart failure and was not associated with long-term mortality. Aortic insufficiency progression was associated with symptomatic heart failure.