The above schematic details the linkage strategy used in the current study. Of 750 individuals in the US CoreValve High Risk Trial, 15 were excluded due to being under 65 years old or undergoing aortic valve replacement at a Veterans Administration or European hospital. Of the 735 remaining, 135 were unable to linked to Medicare data. Of the 1,660 individuals in the SURTAVI trial, 355 were excluded due to being under 65 years old or undergoing aortic valve replacement at a Veterans Affairs Administration or European hospital. Of the 1,305 remaining, 200 were unable to be linked to Medicare data. Subsequently, 163 were excluded due to procedure dates after October 1, 2015. CMS = Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, N = number of individuals, SURTAVI = Surgical or Transcatheter Aortic-Valve Replacement in Intermediate Risk Patients Trial, US = United States, VA = Veterans Administration.