High Degree of Center Variation in Simultaneous Heart Kidney Transplant: Opportunities for Standardization
1Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, 2School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, 3Medicine-Nephrology, Duke University, Durham, NC
Meeting: 2021 American Transplant Congress
Abstract number: 45
Keywords: Allocation, Waiting lists
Topic: Clinical Science » Heart » Heart and VADs: All Topics
Session Information
Session Name: Heart: Triple "D" in Heart Transplantation: DCD, Dual-Organ and Declined Hearts
Session Type: Rapid Fire Oral Abstract
Date: Saturday, June 5, 2021
Session Time: 4:30pm-5:30pm
Presentation Time: 4:40pm-4:45pm
Location: Virtual
*Purpose: Simultaneous heart kidney transplant (SHK) is increasingly common and unregulated. We sought to understand variation in patient selection for SHK at the center level.
*Methods: Data for adult heart transplant recipients and candidates since 2003 were obtained from the UNOS STAR file. Variability in center practice was assessed for all centers performing at least one SHK per year in the study period. Variability in the proportion of dialysis dependent (DD) patients undergoing SHK was determined. Variability in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at transplant among non-dialysis dependent (NDD) SHK recipients was examined, including in relationship to center volume and waitlist mortality. Center level effects on the probability of SHK among non-DD patients were investigated by multivariable logistic regression controlling for age, transplant year, eGFR, ventricular assist device usage, and diabetes status.
*Results: A total 33,463 transplant recipients and 20,390 waitlist registrants were included. There was a high degree of variability in the proportion of DD patients who underwent SHK at the center level (Range 25-82%, Figure 1A). The median eGFR of NDD patients undergoing SHK at the time of transplant varied widely both between (Range 19-56 mL/min/1.73m2) and within centers (Figure 1B). There was no relationship between eGFR at transplant of SHK recipients and either center volume (p=0.448) or waitlist mortality (p=0.156). The odds of receiving SHK among NDD recipients varied widely by center with the odds ratio of the most to least SHK permissive center being 35.0 (95% CI 11.5-106.3). When examining the marginal probability of SHK, we noted that it decreased with increasing eGFR but was different between centers (Figure 2).
*Conclusions: There is wide variation in patient selection for SHK both within and between centers. This variation may present an opportunity to improve allocation of kidneys for these dual organ transplants.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Shaw BI, Samoylova ML, Kesseli SJ, Olaso D, Barbas AS, Sudan DL, Boulware LE, McElroy LM. High Degree of Center Variation in Simultaneous Heart Kidney Transplant: Opportunities for Standardization [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2021; 21 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/high-degree-of-center-variation-in-simultaneous-heart-kidney-transplant-opportunities-for-standardization/. Accessed November 21, 2024.« Back to 2021 American Transplant Congress