Life expectancy of St. Jude mechanical AVR patients

[green881]

I found the following statements from method and results of a research paper( Title: Prognosis after aortic valve replacement with St. Jude Medical bileaflet prostheses: impact on outcome of varying thromboembolic and bleeding hazards) in the European heart journal:

Eight studies were included in a meta-analysis of published results of primary isolated AVR with SJM prostheses (2986 patients, 16,163 patient-years) in order to estimate the hazard of postoperative valve-related events. Using microsimulation, calculated life expectancy and event-free life expectancy were 22 and 16 years in males aged 35 years, and 7 and 5 years in males aged 75 years, respectively. Calculated lifetime risks for thromboembolic and bleeding events were 22% and 15% in males aged 35 years, and 7% and 37% in males aged 75 years, respectively. Varying thromboembolic and bleeding hazards resulted in considerable shifts in lifetime risks and deaths associated with these events.

Probably this paper would be published in 2001. I had SJM AVR at 32 years old 23 years ago. I am kind of confusing and frightening about the above results. Would anybody explain the above method and results well?

Thank you.

 

[LeakyUK]

A big problem for visitors here is the number of confusing and misleading papers based on trawling through outcomes recorded over an earlier twenty year period. So a 2001 paper will include surgeries from 1980 to 2000. Surgery and INR management have changed massively since and these old papers no longer have anything other than historical value. Even some valve manufacturers websites use outdated, and excessively high, mortalitity data. I am 58 and only 3.5 weeks post AVR, but my INR is well controlled, I do not indulge in dangerous activities, and I am expecting a normal lifespan. (I have 40 yrs paid into the UK state pension & I want it back!). If you are in good health, and getting regular check ups then you should forget about google and enjoy your extended life. Congratulations on your 23 year old valve, possibly the second oldest here. Oh and welcome to the club.

 

[hetmarie]

My dad had a mechanical valve put in in 1983 when he was 26. He's never had any issues with it at all. You have to realize there are so many variables when they do studies like that. How is a person's health overall? Are there any extenuating circumstances? The mechanical valves are meant to last a long long time. That's why when you're younger, you go for those over the biological valves which we know will fail after a dozen years or so.

 

[Cooker]

My question is how long would they have survived without the valve? I get out of bed, take my meds and go about my day. I refuse to be held captive by a most likely unfounded fear. Life is good, enjoy it!!

 

[ALCapshaw2]

You have to take the risks for 75 year-olds with a grain of salt.

What would their expected longevity be if the were NOT valve patients?
Maybe another 5 to 7 years? That is the SAME as the expectancy you noted for Valve Recipients.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[RobThatsMe]

My question is how long would they have survived without the valve? I get out of bed, take my meds and go about my day. I refuse to be held captive by a most likely unfounded fear. Life is good, enjoy it!!

+1 on your philosopy Cooker!

I might add," Mechanical Valves can last a life time", as they say to us. That may be very true... the VALVE can... but that does not mean that "other" circumstances within your body, such as panus, can make that a mute point. I got 10 years out of my mechanical valve, enjoyed every minute of it too... But, my body took to rejecting the valve. If I didn't get it replaced, I most likely would not be here today writing this post. I am sure it will happen again too. If your body is prone to panus, it will most likely occur again. So this time, I am trying out the On-X, which is supposed to slow the progress of panus around the valve.

Tick tock... as Cooker said.. Like is Good, Enjoy It, .... while you can!

Rob

 

[dick0236]

Using microsimulation, calculated life expectancy and event-free life expectancy were 22 and 16 years in males aged 35 years, and 7 and 5 years in males aged 75 years, respectively. Calculated lifetime risks for thromboembolic and bleeding events were 22% and 15% in males aged 35 years, and 7% and 37% in males aged 75 years, respectively. Would anybody explain the above method and results well?

Thank you.

Soooooo....what's your point? I have gone 44 years on my valve and 37 years without an event.....I am now 75 years old and I hope that I get another 7 years. If I do, that will be 4 years more than the current normal life expectancy of 78. Why clutter up your life with a bunch of "what if" stats......been there, done that......and it is a stupid, stupid waste of time. Odds are that something beside a valve related problem will get you, and it will be something that is not on your radar yet. Lost my best friend, today at 11:15 am. He was a long term cancer survivor, lost a leg to diabetes, and congestive heart failure finally took his life.

 

[RobThatsMe]

Soooooo....what's your point? I have gone 44 years on my valve and 37 years without an event.....I am now 75 years old and I hope that I get another 7 years. If I do, that will be 4 years more than the current normal life expectancy of 78. Why clutter up your life with a bunch of "what if" stats......been there, done that......and it is a stupid, stupid waste of time. Odds are that something beside a valve related problem will get you, and it will be something that is not on your radar yet. Lost my best friend, today at 11:15 am. He was a long term cancer survivor, lost a leg to diabetes, and congestive heart failure finally took his life.

Hi Dick,

So sorry to hear about you losing your friend today. I does get harder and harder to make and keep good friends these days. I am sure he will be deeply missed by you.

I'll say a prayer for him.

Rob

 

[dick0236]

...... (I have 40 yrs paid into the UK state pension & I want it back!). .

LOL:biggrin2:. Funny quote. I thought the same way and took one of my company pensions at 55 and the other at 60 because I wanted to get my money before I died. Of course I had to take a significantly reduced amount by taking it early. As things turned out, I wish I had let it "compound for a few more years". Oh well, "we get too soon old....and too late smart":frown2::tongue2:.