Population-based treated prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes of bicuspid aortic valve in a pediatric Medicaid cohort.

BACKGROUND

We investigated the treated prevalence of bicuspid aortic valve in a pediatric population with congenital heart disease and its incident complications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A 15-year retrospective data set was analyzed. Selection criteria included age ≤17 years, enrollees in the South Carolina State Medicaid program and diagnosed as having bicuspid aortic valve on one or more service visits.

RESULTS

The 15-year-treated prevalence of predominantly isolated bicuspid aortic valve was 2% (20/1000) of pediatric congenital heart disease cases, with a non-African American: African-American ratio of 3.5:1, and a male:female ratio of 1.6:1. Aortic stenosis (28.0%), ventricular septal defect (20.6%), and coarctation of the aorta (20.6%) were the most prevalent coexisting congenital heart lesions. Of the 378 bicuspid aortic valve cases examined, 10.3% received aortic valve repair/replacement, which was significantly more likely to be performed in children with diagnosed aortic stenosis (adjusted odds ratio = 12.90; 95% confidence interval = 5.66-29.44). Cohort outcomes over the study period indicated that 9.5% had diagnosed heart failure, but <1% had diagnosed supraventricular tachycardia, infective endocarditis, aneurysm, dissection, or death.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of isolated bicuspid aortic valve cases without aortic stenosis did not require surgical intervention. Outcomes for cases requiring repair/replacement were relatively benign.