Korean J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg.  2013 Apr;46(2):111-116. 10.5090/kjtcs.2013.46.2.111.

Heart Transplantation in the Elderly Patients: Midterm Results

• Yeom SY
• Hwang HY
• Oh SJ
• Cho HJ
• Lee HY
• Kim KB

• KMID: 1427804
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5090/kjtcs.2013.46.2.111

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Heart transplantation in elderly patients has raised concerns because of co-morbidities and limited life expectancy in the era of donor shortage. We examined the outcomes after heart transplantation in elderly patients.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
From March 1994 to December 2011, 81 patients (male:female=64:17, 49.1+/-14.0 years) underwent heart transplantation. The outcomes after heart transplantation in the younger patients (<60 years; group Y, n=60) were compared with those in the elderly patients (> or =60 years; group O, n=21). The follow-up duration was 51.8+/-62.7 months.
RESULTS
Early mortality (< or =30 days) occurred in 5.0% (3/60) and 4.8% (1/21) of groups Y and O, respectively (p>0.999). There were no differences in overall survival between the two groups (p=0.201). Freedom from rejection was higher in group O than in group Y (p=0.026). Multivariable analysis revealed that age > or =60 years was not a significant risk factor for long-term survival; postoperative renal failure was the only significant risk factor for long-term survival (p=0.011).
CONCLUSION
Early and mid-term results of heart transplantation in elderly patients were similar to those in younger patients.

Keyword

Heart transplantation; Outcome assessment; Elderly

MeSH Terms

Aged
Follow-Up Studies
Freedom
Heart
Heart Transplantation
Humans
Life Expectancy
Rejection (Psychology)
Renal Insufficiency
Risk Factors
Tissue Donors