Cardiovascular disease risk in patients receiving organ transplantation: a national cohort study

Summary Although organ transplantation is the definitive treatment for end-stage organ failure, the post-transplant outcomes can be substantially influenced by cardiovascular complications. A national cohort study was performed to estimate risks of cardiovascular diseases in those with heart, lung, kidney, and liver transplantation. This cohort study consisted of 5978 solid organ transplantations identified using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database. Cardiovascular and mortality risks in transplant recipients were evaluated using standardized incidence ratios, excess absolute risks, and standardized mortality ratios as compared to those in the general population. In heart, kidney, and liver recipients, the standardized incidence ratios of overall cardiovascular diseases were 9.41 (7.75–11.44), 3.32 (2.29–3.77), and 1.4 (1.15–1.7) and the overall standardized mortality ratios were 5.23 (4.54–6.03), 1.48 (1.34–1.63), and 3.95 (3.64–4.28), respectively. Except for heart organ recipients who were at highest risk for coronary artery disease with a standardized incidence ratio of 13.12 (10.57–16.29), kidney and liver organ recipients had a ninefold increased risk in developing deep vein thrombosis post-transplant. In conclusion, solid organ transplant patients are at risk of cardiovascular disease, in particular, deep vein thrombosis, which may warrant early identification of high-risk patients in addition to prompt and adequate thromboprophylaxis perioperatively.