Hospital readmissions after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) were associated with higher long-term mortality in a retrospective cohort study published in IJC Heart & Vasculature. The analysis evaluated the impact of both cardiac and non-cardiac readmissions following TAVI.

The study included 1,008 patients (mean age 85 ± 5 years; 325 [32%] male) who underwent TAVI between January 2014 and December 2024. Cardiac readmission was defined as hospitalization for heart failure (HF), while non-cardiac readmissions included infection, fracture, and stroke. Cause-specific cumulative incidence was estimated using the Fine-Gray competing risk model, and associations with mortality were assessed using time-dependent Cox proportional hazards models.

During follow-up, 253 patients (26%) died. The 10-year cumulative incidence of readmission was 38% for HF, 10% for infection, 23% for fracture, and 9% for stroke. Each readmission type was significantly associated with increased all-cause mortality.

Hazard ratios (HRs) were 5.54 (95% CI 3.99-7.69) for HF, 5.00 (95% CI 2.81-8.89) for infection, 5.69 (95% CI 3.39-9.54) for stroke, and 4.47 (95% CI 2.90-6.09) for fracture (all p<0.01). Most readmissions occurred within the first year. Fracture-related readmissions showed a secondary rise around the second year, and all event types increased again after the third year.

These findings suggest both cardiac and non-cardiac readmissions identify patients at higher mortality risk after TAVI.