Diagnostic and referral delay in patients with aortic stenosis is common and negatively affects outcome

Objective. Aortic stenosis (AS) patients are often severely symptomatic at the time of aortic valve replacement (AVR). We wanted to investigate doctors' delay and its impact on outcome. Design. AS patients undergoing AVR (n=422) were included. Clinical and echocardiographic data at the time of diagnosis and preoperatively were noted. The risk of death after AVR was estimated using Poisson regression, incorporating age, gender, coronary artery disease, NYHA III/IV and time on the waiting list for AVR. Results. The age (mean +/- SD) was 719/8.6 years, 45% were women, and 48% were in NYHA III/IV. 55% underwent AVR within one year of diagnosis, indicating late diagnosis. The time from referral to AVR (median, range) was 112 (1-803) days. NYHA III/IV independently predicted mortality (hazard ratio 1.76, 95% CI 1.28 - 2.43, p = 0.0005). The time from referral to AVR influenced the risk of death immediately after operation (p = 0.0083). Conclusion. Late diagnosis and late referral for AVR are common, and negatively influence outcome in patients with AS. Delay in surgery after referral increase the mortality immediately after AVR.