Functional status of heart transplant recipients predicts survival

Introduction Recipient functional status prior to transplantation can significantly impact post-transplant survival. Methods The United Network for Organ Sharing database was queried for adult heart transplants including data on functional capacity and from February 1, 2005 to March 1, 2021; there were 32 875 cases included. The four functional categories studied were based on adult daily activities of living and were separated into total assistance required, some assistance required, no assistance required, and near death. Survival outcomes were compared for recipient's pretransplant level of functional status versus those with near death status. These were compared using adjusted logistic regression (odds of death at 30 days and 1 year) and conditional Cox models (overall survival and time until post-transplant rejection). All models were adjusted for donor age, sex, ethnicity, ischemic time, as well as recipient age, sex, ethnicity, length of stay, UNOS region, ventricular assist device, creatinine, days on the waiting list, and status at transplant. Results There were 12 953 recipients classified as "near death" or "severely disabled"; 7711 "required total assistance in daily living", 7,328 "needed some", and 4883 "needed none". In adjusted models, the probabilities of death for the lowest functioning groups within 30 days and 1 year were 5% and 10%, respectively. Those "requiring total assistance" had analogous probabilities of 3% (OR = 0.58; p < 0.001) and 9% (OR = 0.81; p < 0.001). Those "requiring some assistance" had probabilities of 3% (OR = 0.56; p < 0.001) and 9% (OR = 0.74; p < 0.001). Lastly, those "requiring no assistance" had probabilities of death of 2% (OR = 0.35; p < 0.001) and 7% (OR = 0.63; p < 0.001). Conclusion Recipient functional status assessed pre-transplant and recorded in the UNOS database is a strong predictor of post-transplant survival.