Predictive Value of Body Mass Index in Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Surgery.

BACKGROUND

With this study we aimed to analyze if the separate consideration of body mass index (BMI) could provide any superior predictive values compared with the established risk scores in isolated minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS). This might facilitate future therapeutic decision-making, e.g., regarding the question surgery versus transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVr).

METHODS

We assessed the relevance of BMI in non-underweight patients who underwent isolated MIMVS. The risk predictive potential of BMI for mortality and several postoperative adverse events was assessed in 429 consecutive patients. This predictive potential was compared with that of European System for Cardiac Outcome Risk Evaluation II (EuroSCORE II) and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons score (STS score) using a comparative receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.

RESULTS

BMI was a significant numeric predictor of wound healing disorders ( = 0.001) and proved to be significantly superior in case of this postoperative adverse event compared with the EuroSCORE II ( = 0.040) and STS score ( = 0.015). Except for this, the predictive potential of BMI was significantly inferior compared with that of the EuroSCORE II and STS score for several end points, including 30-day ( = 0.029 and  = 0.006) and 1-year ( = 0.012 and  = 0.001) mortality.

CONCLUSION

Therefore, we suggest that, in the course of decision-making regarding the right treatment modality for non-underweight patients with isolated mitral valve regurgitation, the sole factor of BMI should not be given a predominant weight.