Distribution of patient baseline characteristics among included studies. Distribution of patient baseline characteristics among included studies. Each bubble represents one study, with bubble size representing study sample size. (A) Distribution of mean age in years; (B) distribution of proportion of patients with concomitant ascending aorta repair or replacement; (C) distribution of proportion of patients in NYHA class III/IV; (D) distribution of patients with aortic regurgitation; (E) distribution of mean ascending aorta diameter in mm and (F) distribution of patients with aortic aneurysm. Maximilian Salcher et al. Open Heart 2016;3:e000502 ©2016 by British Cardiovascular Society