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Impact of Donor Cause of Death and Geographic Location on Recipient Mortality Post Heart Transplant- a UNOS Database Review
Background It is unclear whether heart donor cause of death (CoD) influences recipient mortality and if cardiovascular risk varies by region. By analyzing the UNOS database, it can be determined if donor CoD impacts recipient post-transplant mortality and if regional differences influence cardiovascular health.
Methods The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) registry was queried for all adult heart transplant recipients and donors from 1987 to 2023 in Southern, Western, Northeastern, and Midwest states. Donors were grouped by CoD, including anoxia, gunshot wounds/trauma (GSW), intracranial bleed/stroke (IS/B), and other causes of death. Unadjusted and adjusted mortality was compared.
Results Of the 56,901 patients included in this analysis, GSW donors accounted for the smallest number of donors (18.13%, p <0.001), the lowest number of female donors (11.38%, p <0.001), and the youngest patients (26.85 ± 9.54, p <0.001). IS/B donors had the highest donor age (40.26 ± 11.19, p <0.001) and the highest number of female donors (11.19%, p <0.001). Mortality at 30 days, 1 year, and 5 years varies significantly according to the CoD (p<0.001). Recipients of IS/B hearts had worse mortality rates 30 days, 1 year, and 5 years post-transplant (6.55%, 14.67%, and 30.04%). Recipients from GSW donors had the best mortality rates 30 days, 1 year, and 5 years following transplant (4.60%, 11.42%, and 26.44%). When adjusting for covariables and mortality by region compared to the Northeast, the South had the increased mortality (hazard ratio HR = 1.09, 95% confidence interval CI = 1.06-1.13, p <0.001) and the West had decreased mortality (HR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.89-0.97, p <0.001). When comparing other donor CoD to GSW, IS/B, and anoxia donor CoD within each region, there were no significant differences in mortality rates.
Conclusion This study looked at geographical differences in donor CoD and mortality rates. The mortality of heart transplant recipients varies according to the CoD of the donor, even when adjusted for different regions. No significant differences were observed when analyzing each region individually according to the donor CoD.