Work

Sex differences and gender-related disparities in transcatheter tricuspid edge-to-edge repair for secondary tricuspid regurgitation: toward a personalized approach in cardiac care

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is a frequently underdiagnosed and undertreated condition that is linked to a poor prognosis. Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) may occur as atrial secondary TR (A-STR), which is associated with right atrial dilation and is more common in women, or as ventricular secondary TR (V-STR), which is associated with right ventricular dilation and is more frequently observed in men. Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) of tricuspid regurgitation using the TriClip system (Abbott Cardiovascular) has demonstrated a favorable procedural safety profile and consistent improvements in TR severity, symptoms, and quality of life in selected patients at high or prohibitive surgical risk. Randomized 1-year trials did not show significant reductions in mortality or heart failure hospitalization; however, the subsequent 2-year TRILUMINATE follow-up reported fewer recurrent heart failure hospitalizations without a mortality benefit. Objective To review evidence on sex differences in tricuspid regurgitation across epidemiology, pathophysiology, guideline-directed management, and outcomes after T-TEER, together with gender-related disparities in access to care, in order to inform more personalized therapeutic strategies. Methods A structured narrative review of PubMed/MEDLINE was conducted from database inception through 31 January 2026. The electronic search was supplemented by backward citation searching and by the examination of relevant guidelines and consensus documents from official scientific society websites. Study identification and selection were documented using a PRISMA-informed flow diagram. Because of substantial clinical and methodological heterogeneity among the available studies, the evidence was synthesized narratively without quantitative meta-analysis. Evidence Randomized trials and registries demonstrate high rates of successful device implantation and tricuspid regurgitation reduction after tricuspid transcatheter edge-to-edge repair, although procedural endpoints, definitions, denominators, and assessment time points differ across studies and are therefore not directly comparable. At 1 year, the mean change in Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire score from baseline was +12.3 points with T-TEER versus +0.6 points with medical therapy in the TRILUMINATE primary randomized cohort, and +15.9 versus +0.4 points in Tri.Fr, corresponding to reported between-group differences of +11.7 and +14.5 points, respectively. In the single-arm bRIGHT registry, the paired within-group mean KCCQ improvement from baseline was +19 points. Exploratory observational data suggest that sex may modify the prognostic association between right ventricular–pulmonary arterial coupling and mortality after TTVI; however, the proposed sex-specific TAPSE/mPAP thresholds were internally derived in a single retrospective cohort and require external validation before any clinical application. Conclusion TEER with the TriClip system appears to be a viable treatment option in women, who often present with A-STR and preserved right ventricular function. Available evidence suggests broadly comparable procedural success and symptomatic improvement in women and men, although most sex-specific findings derive from exploratory analyses. Integrating sex-specific considerations into diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up may help optimize intervention timing and improve the overall management of TR.

Source: Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine

DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2026.1831980