About the EASY-AS trial

Aortic stenosis (AS), is a common condition in which one of the four heart valves narrows over many years. When a valve becomes narrow, it can reduce the flow of blood through the heart and the body. Symptoms can include shortness of breath and chest pain; these can take years to develop and some patients never develop symptoms at all. Patients who do have symptoms can have the valve replaced. This works really well, but as with any medical procedure, there is a chance of complications, and it can take a long time to recover. Some heart specialists believe that replacing the valve before symptoms develop may be better than the more conventional approach of performing the AVR once symptoms develop.

This international study is investigating whether it is better for patients with severe AS but no symptoms to have AVR straight away or to wait until symptoms develop before this is done. The results will also tell us which option is more cost effective for the health service because at present we do not know. 

It is important to note that this trial is not looking at the difference between having an AVR or TAVI procedure. The intervention you will receive will be at the clinical teams discretion and what they believe is the best option for you. This trial is simply looking at whether there is a difference if a participant has an intervention before symptom development or, as is current practice, to wait for symptoms before having surgery.

The trial is expected to recruit until 30th September 2027 with the trial end date to be March 2031.