Timing, Frequency, and Precipitating Factors of Early Readmission After Heart Transplant.
University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL
Meeting: 2017 American Transplant Congress
Abstract number: C113
Keywords: Heart, Heart transplant patients, Post-operative complications, Risk factors
Session Information
Session Name: Poster Session C: Hearts and VADS: All Topics
Session Type: Poster Session
Date: Monday, May 1, 2017
Session Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm
Presentation Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm
Location: Hall D1
Purpose: Early hospital readmission after organ transplantation, defined as readmission within 30 days of discharge, has been found to be associated with increased morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to determine the timing, frequency, etiology and patterns of 30-day readmissions among heart transplant recipients, as well as to determine whether there were any significant predictors of readmission or effects on survival. Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective study. From January 2008 through September 2015, 209 patients underwent heart transplantation. A total of 18 patients died before discharge and were excluded from our analysis. Numerous pre-transplant variables and post-operative complications were compared using 2-sided t-tests and chi-square tests between patients who were and were not readmitted within 30 days of their discharge after transplant. Results: 191 heart transplant recipients were included in the analysis, 78% (n=148) were male, 47% (n=90) were Caucasian, 38% (n=72) were African American. The average age was 55 years.
| Table 1: Baseline Characteristics | N = 191 |
| Age, years | 55 |
| Sex, n(%)
Male Female |
148 (78)
43 (22) |
| Weight, kg | 86.7 |
| Pre-transplant BMI | 28.2 |
| Pre-transplant comorbidities
Diabetes, n(%) End Stage Renal Disease, n(%) Serum creatinine, (range) |
74 (39)
22 (12) 1.6 (0.7-7.6) |
| Psychosocial background, n(%)
History of alcohol abuse History of smoking |
17 (9)
88 (46) |
| Induction
Basiliximab Rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin Combination/other |
103 (54)
70 (37) 18 (9) |
Early readmission within 30 days occurred in 28% of patients with a total of 59 early readmissions occurring in 53 patients. Rejection (25%), infection (12%), acute kidney injury (9%), gastrointestinal complications (9%), and hyperglycemia (7%) were the most common causes of early readmission. The median readmission length of stay was 11 days (range 1-147). 117 patients (61%) experienced at least 1 readmission within the first-year post-transplant accounting for a total of 273 readmissions. The 1-year post-transplant mortality rate was found to be 6% (n=11); early readmission did not affect 1-year mortality. Conclusions: Our experience indicates that the 30-day readmission rate after heart transplant is 28%, which is in keeping with previous studies of other organ groups. Rejection and infection were the most common causes of post-transplant rehospitalization.
CITATION INFORMATION: Van Liew J, Potter L, Uriel N, Lourenco L. Timing, Frequency, and Precipitating Factors of Early Readmission After Heart Transplant. Am J Transplant. 2017;17 (suppl 3).
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Liew JVan, Potter L, Uriel N, Lourenco L. Timing, Frequency, and Precipitating Factors of Early Readmission After Heart Transplant. [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2017; 17 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/timing-frequency-and-precipitating-factors-of-early-readmission-after-heart-transplant/. Accessed May 12, 2025.« Back to 2017 American Transplant Congress