Abstract

Objective: Analyze the clinical follow-up of older adults undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), highlighting survival rate, healthcare service utilization and clinical vulnerability markers, while discussing their implications for geriatric cardiology and palliative care. Methods: An observational, retrospective, and descriptive study conducted in a tertiary military hospital that included 33 patients undergoing TAVI between January 2022 and January 2026. Age, sex, emergency department visits, and hospital admissions were also evaluated. Results: The mean age was 82.5 years, with a median of 83 years; 69.7% of patients were ≥80 years old and 36.4% were ≥85 years old. There was a male predominance (57.6%). At the end of follow-up, 25 patients (75.8%) were alive. Eighteen patients (54.5%) had no emergency department visits and 20 (60.6%) were not hospitalized post-procedure. The eight patients who died represented 24.2% of the cohort, yet accounted for 48.8% of emergency department visits and 64.7% of hospital admissions. Conclusion: A significant proportion of older adults demonstrated clinical stability and low need for hospital services post-TAVI. However, the concentration of adverse outcomes underscores the importance of identifying vulnerability, conducting geriatric cardiology evaluation, and implementing individualized care strategies. Integrating palliative care principles can contribute to symptom management, communication, and aligning therapeutic decisions with patient goals

Keywords

older adults, transcatheter aortic valve replacement, geriatric cardiology, palliative care, aortic stenosis, mortality