Background: Cardiac transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR-CM) is a life-threatening cardiomyopathy. Tafamidis has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment. Our aim was to analyze clinical characteristics and survival of patients with ATTR-CM aged ≥80 years diagnosed after November 2018, treated with tafamidis 80/61 mg, and compare them with a non-treated group diagnosed before that date.
Methods: Data from the two groups were extracted from the Healthcare European Amyloidosis Registry (HEAR). Propensity score matching was used to adjust for baseline differences between the groups. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox regression analyses were applied to assess survival outcomes.
Results: Out of 1380 patients, 1194 were treated with tafamidis 80/61 mg. Treated patients were significantly less severe at baseline, with a lower occurrence of NYHA class III-IV compared to the untreated group (24 vs. 46 %, p < 0.001). The median NT-proBNP at baseline was lower in the treated group (2330 vs. 4854 pg/ml, p < 0.001), as was the average level of high-sensitivity troponin T (55 vs. 74 ng/ml, p < 0.001), and the interventricular septal thickness (16 vs. 18 mm, p < 0.001). The 3-year survival rate for treated patients was 57 %, and 40 % for untreated patients. In the treated group, the 3-year survival rate was 68 % for patients aged 80-85 years and 58 % for those over 85 years. Survival rates were confirmed after propensity score analyses.
Conclusions: This study demonstrates that tafamidis provides significant survival benefits for elderly patients with ATTR-CM, even in those over 85 years old. The findings emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.
Keywords: ATTR-CM; Cardiac transthyretin amyloidosis; Elderly; Survival; Tafamidis.
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