Foroutan et al reported factors associated with increased 1-year mortality in heart transplant recipients. These can help to identify a patient who may benefit from more aggressive management. The authors are from Toronto General Hospital and McMaster University.
Patient selection: heart transplant recipient
Outcome: 1-year mortality
Predictors related to donor and recipient:
(1) older age of the recipient (odds ratio 1.2 per 10-year increase)
(2) older age of the donor (odds ratio 1.2 per 10-year increase)
(3) female donor to male recipient (odds ratio 1.4)
Recipient predictors:
(1) congenital heart disease (odds ratio 1.4)
(2) diabetes (odds ratio 1.4)
Predictors related to organ failure:
(1) elevated serum creatinine concentration (odds ratio 1.1 per 1 mg/L increase)
(2) mechanical circulatory support (MCS): pulsatile (odds ratio 1.3); short term (odds ratio 2.5)
(3) mechanical ventilation (odds ratio 2.5)
The odds ratios are in general individually low, with the risk greater when multiple predictors are present.
