Long-term impact of transcatheter atrial septal defect closure in adults on cardiac function and exercise capacity

Adults who undergo transcatheter ASD closure may experience a further improvement in exercise capacity in the long term. The long-term improvement in exercise capacity is associated to an improvement in cardiac form and function and is not influenced by age at closure. Even if the majority of patients may reach a normal exercise capacity after ASD closure, an abnormal exercise capacity may persist in those patients that had a peak oxygen uptake below 50% of predicted value before the procedure.