Results
Reported deaths attributed to transcatheter aortic valve prostheses more
than doubled from the pre-pandemic year of 2019 to the pandemic year of
2020 (Figure 1). Monthly reported deaths attributed to transcatheter
aortic valve prostheses increased by 124%, from 25.0 monthly deaths in
2019 to 55.9 monthly deaths in 2020 (p<0.003). The increased
level of deaths persisted in 2021, with 58.3 monthly reported deaths in
2021; the overall increase in deaths from 2019 to 2021 was 133%.
Reported injuries attributed to transcatheter aortic valve prostheses
increased by 25% during the pandemic year of 2020 (Figure 2); reported
monthly injuries rose from 297.8 in 2019 to 371.4 in 2020
(p<0.03). Reported malfunctions attributed to transcatheter
aortic valve prostheses increased by 39% during the pandemic year of
2020 (Figure 3; reported monthly injuries rose from 40.1 in 2019 to 55.7
in 2020 (p<0.007).