Reducing tricuspid regurgitation (TR) after transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (T-TEER) improved outcomes more than changes in right ventricular (RV) function. The Tri.fr trial, presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 2025, enrolled 300 patients with severe TR.

Out of these, 152 were treated with T-TEER plus guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT), and 148 received GDMT alone. At 1 year, the T-TEER group showed a significant decrease in TR severity and improvements across most RV function measures, while no such changes were seen in the GDMT group.
A stepwise improvement in the composite clinical score occurred with each additional grade of TR reduction. These benefits were consistent regardless of baseline right atrial volume, but were more evident in patients with preserved RV–pulmonary artery coupling.

Interestingly, RV remodeling had less impact on outcomes compared with the degree of TR reduction. Overall, the findings suggest that achieving optimal TR reduction is a stronger determinant of clinical benefit than restoring RV function.