PARTNER 3 Update: Long-Term Quality of Life in Low-Risk Patients

New 7-year data from the PARTNER 3 trial, presented at CRT 2026, offers critical insights for our low-risk aortic stenosis patients choosing between TAVI (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation) and SAVR (Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement).

Key Clinical Takeaways:

• Early Advantage: Patients undergoing TAVI experienced significantly faster recovery and improved health status (measured by KCCQ-OS scores) within the first 30 days compared to surgery.

• Long-Term Equivalence: By year 7, there were no meaningful differences in quality of life or clinical outcomes between the two groups. Roughly 60% of patients in both arms remained alive and felt "well."

• Subgroup Nuance: Interestingly, a trend favored SAVR in patients older than 74, while TAVI showed better results for those with a low LVEF ($\le 55\%$).

While the early "bounce back" of transcatheter therapy remains its hallmark, the long-term valve durability and functional stability of the Sapien 3 valve provide the "stamp of approval" for either approach in the low-risk population.

---

Referenced Literature

• PARTNER 3: TAVI and SAVR Matched for Health Status at 7 Years - Brener M. Presented at: CRT 2026.

• Long-Term Follow-up of the PARTNER 3 Low-Risk Randomized Trial: Seven-Year Clinical and Echocardiographic Outcomes - Mack MJ, et al.