Table 1 Predictors of 30-day- and 6-months-mortality and survival time. Apparently valve size is a risk factor in the first step of the analysis. However, after adjustment for gender, age, BSA, BMI and body size, valve size disappeared (p < 0.05)

Myocardial decompensation

2.9

1.1–7.2

Diabetes mellitus

2.7

1.3–5.5

2.0

1.3–3.0

Atrial fibrillation

2.3

1.1–5.2

2.8

1.8–4.4

Peripheral vascular disease

2.2

1.2–4.0

Antithrombine III (%)

0.97

0.94–0.99

0.96

0.94–0.99

Urea concentration (mg/dl)

1.02

1.01–1.03

1.02

1.011.02

Valve size

p = 0.009

p = 0.05

p = 0.02

After Variable transformation:

Female and age > 74 years

4.0

1.4–11.0

BSA < 1.78 m²

3.0

1.51–6.07

Female and age > 80 years

1.8

1.03–2.94

BMI < 24 and body size < 165 cm

1.7

1.02–2.93

Valve size

p = 0.13

p = 0.47

p = 0.22