Mortality in Patients Requiring a Heart Transplant

Introduction: Approximately 7.5% of heart failure patients pass away within 30 days post-transplant, with the mortality rate reaching 17.5% among those with congenital heart disease (CHD). The mortality rate for those awaiting transplants is high, as the 1-year survival rate is currently 68%. This study evaluated the mortality rates of patients requiring heart transplantation from Southern Saskatchewan.

Methods:
We conducted a retrospective review of patients referred for heart transplantation from the Heart Function Clinic between 2007 and 2023. Kaplan-Meir curves and log rank tests were calculated to assess survival rates.

Results: From 62 patients, 7 had CHD, 17 underwent heart transplantation (1 with CHD), and 45 are awaiting transplantation or have passed away. Patients who passed away had higher prevalence of chronic kidney disease (p=0.010), were less likely to have transplant (p=0.003), and had lower diastolic pressure (p=0.049). Log rank test showed differences in survival distribution (p=0.003) for those who had a transplant compared to those who did not.

Conclusion: Timely heart transplant reduces the likelihood of mortality in these patients. Future research will build on these findings by using a patient-centered approach and increasing collaboration with the transplant centers.