High-risk findings on stress echocardiography
| Risk factor | High-risk values | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Increase in mean aortic valve pressure gradient during stress echocardiography | Increase > 20 mm Hg | 3.8-fold increase in cardiovascular events (death or aortic valve replacement) independent of other risk factors20 |
| Decrease in aortic valve surface area during stress echocardiography | Aortic valve area ≤ 0.75 cm2 | Independent predictors of poor prognosis (symptoms, aortic valve replacement, death)19 |
| Increase in systolic pulmonary artery pressure during stress echocardiography | Systolic pulmonary artery pressure > 50 mm Hg | Independent predictor of hospital mortality and a higher mortality rate after valve replacement23 |
| Left ventricular contractile reserve | Decrease in ejection fraction during exercise | Symptoms developing more frequently during exercise and a lower event-free survival rate24 |