The Effect of Donor Heart Risk Factors on Cardiac Transplantation

Purpose To examine the effect of common donor risk factors on post heart transplant outcomes. Methods Utilizing the UNOS/SRTR database we identified all adult primary heart transplants after July 1, 2006. Six donor RFs were identified: age > 50, documented coronary disease, smoking history, recent cocaine use, diabetes and hypertension. Donors were categorized by: no RFs, 1 RF, 2 RFs, or 3+ RFs. The groups were compared using an analysis of variance or chi-square test for continuous and categorical variables, respectively. A Cox proportional hazards model and Kaplan Meier analysis were performed. Results 26,793 heart transplants were identified. The most common donor RF was recent cocaine use. Use of donors with more RFs was associated with older recipients (p Conclusion Donors with more risk factors were associated with slightly worse outcomes following heart transplant. While differences were statistically significant, careful selection of both recipients and donors with risk factors at appropriate centers may increase utilization of donor hearts.