Background: History of cancer is common in patients undergoing transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR). 

Objectives: Aim was to examine the impact of cancer history on mortality, symptomatic and functional outcomes after TMVR.

Methods: In patients of a monocentric prospective registry of TMVR history of cancer was retrospectively assessed from records. Associations with 6-week outcomes (6-minute walking distance, Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire, Short Form 36 physical and mental component scores and New York Heart Association class) and clinical outcomes during a median follow-up period of 594 days were examined. 

Results: Of 661 patients (mean age 79 years; age-range 37 to 101 years; 56.1% men), 18.5% had a history of cancer. Compared with non-cancer patients, cancer patients had a similar procedural success rate (reduction of mitral regurgitation to grade 2 or lower 90.2% vs. 88.5%; p=0.89) and similar relevant improvement in 6-MWT, NYHA class, MLWHFQ score and SF-36 scores. 1-year survival (81% vs. 83%; p=0.48), 1-year survival free of heart failure decompensation (74% vs. 78%; p=0.37), median survival (1993 days vs. 1994 days; p=1.0) and median survival free of heart failure decompensation (1298 days vs. 1436 days; p=0.35) were comparable between cancer and non-cancer patients.

Conclusion: 

TMVR can be performed with equal efficacy in patients with a history of cancer and symptomatic mitral regurgitation. Cancer patients show comparable clinical outcome with respect to midterm mortality and rehospitalization and similar short-term functional improvement as non-cancer patients. These results support the use of TMVR in selected patients with a history of cancer.

Key words: Cancer, Mitral regurgitation, transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair