Work

Impact of syncope history on long-term physical activity in patients ≥2 years after transcatheter aortic valve replacement: a single-centre cross-sectional study in China

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To explore long-term physical activity (PA) among patients 2 years post-transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and assess the impact of syncope history on post-TAVR activity. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study conducted using an on-site questionnaire. SETTING: In this cross-sectional study, we used convenience sampling to recruit participants from the outpatient department at a tertiary hospital in Shanghai, China, between July 2023 and December 2023. PARTICIPANTS: Patients who had undergone TAVR for 2 years or more were included in the study. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The self-reported PA levels were assessed using the validated Chinese version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form. Additionally, medical records of the patients were thoroughly reviewed to accurately document the history of syncope for everyone. RESULT: Via convenience sampling, we recruited 179 consecutive participants aged 60 years and older who underwent TAVR. Only 36.31% (65/179) of patients remained physically active ≥2 years post-TAVR, with 27.37% having a syncope history. After adjusting for potential confounders, a history of syncope was independently associated with significantly lower levels of long-term PA (adjusted OR 0.287, 95% CI 0.122 to 0.675). This negative association was particularly pronounced among men and individuals with a normal body mass index (BMI). CONCLUSION: A history of syncope is a strong independent predictor of reduced PA in the long term after TAVR. These findings highlight that patients with a history of syncope, especially men and those with normal BMI, represent a high-risk subgroup warranting particular attention in post-TAVR care. Targeted assessment and rehabilitation strategies should be considered for this population, and further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Source: BMJ Open

DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-094395