RAS Inhibitors After TAVR Associated With Reduced Mortality in Meta-Analysis of 36,000 Patients

BACKGROUND: Aortic stenosis leads to left ventricular remodeling, hypertrophy, and fibrosis, increasing the risk of heart failure. Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors may mitigate these adverse effects and improve clinical outcomes. Despite advancements in transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), substantial mortality, heart failure readmissions, and other complications persist. AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of RAS inhibitor therapy following TAVR on clinical outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and Bayesian meta-analysis following the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane was performed to identify studies comparing RAS inhibitor (RASi) use versus non-use in patients undergoing TAVR for aortic stenosis. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% credible intervals (CrI) were estimated using a Bayesian random-effects model. Between-study heterogeneity was quantified using the posterior distribution of the heterogeneity parameter (τ). Posterior probabilities (PP) of treatment benefit were calculated, with clinically meaningful effects defined as P (OR < 0.8). All analyses were performed using R version 4.5.0. RESULTS: A total of 12 studies comprising 35,988 patients were included, of whom 17,026 (47.3%) received RASi therapy. The mean age ranged from 78.9 to 84.4 years. Post-TAVR RASi use was associated with a 79.4% probability of a clinically relevant reduction in all-cause mortality and a 99.5% probability of a clinically relevant reduction in cardiovascular mortality. There was a 54% probability of a clinically relevant reduction in heart failure hospitalization and a negligible (2.26%) probability of a reduction in the odds of myocardial infarction in the RASi group. CONCLUSIONS: RASi therapy following TAVR is associated with reduced odds of mortality and heart failure readmission.