Clinical Heterogeneity in Coarctation of the Aorta: Data-Driven Morbidity Sub-Phenotypes from a Nationwide Registry

Background/Objectives: Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is associated with lifelong risks of residual or recurrent arch obstruction, hypertension, ventricular remodeling, and aortic-valve disease. We characterized documented morbidity and procedure-entry burden in a nationwide CoA registry cohort and assessed recurring morbidity patterns and age-dependent sex differences.

Methods

Patients with CoA as the primary congenital diagnosis were identified in the German National Register for Congenital Heart Defects (NRCHD). Congenital, acquired cardiovascular, and extracardiac diagnoses, composite morbidity indicators, and procedure-source entries were analyzed descriptively and by age, CHD complexity, documented bicuspid aortic-valve (BAV) status, and sex. Exploratory latent class analysis characterized recurring cross-sectional morbidity patterns, and logistic regression assessed sex-by-age interactions.