Effect of donor age on long-term survival following cardiac transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
The current shortage of donor hearts has forced the criteria of organ procurement to be extended, leading to increased use of older donor hearts to bridge the gap between demand and availability. Our objective was to analyze the effect of donor age on outcomes after cardiac transplantation.


METHODS
We retrospectively studied 864 patients who underwent cardiac transplantation at New York Presbyterian Hospital - Columbia University between 1992 and 2002. Patients were divided into two groups; donor age <40 years (Group A, n = 600) and donor age > or =40 years (Group B, n = 264).


RESULTS
Characteristics including gender, body mass index, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) status were significantly different between the two donor age groups. Race, CMV status, toxoplasmosis status, left ventricular assist device prior to transplant, diabetes mellitus, and retransplantation were similar in both the recipient groups, while age, gender, and BMI were different. Early mortality was lower in Group A, 5%, versus 9.5% in Group B. Multivariate analysis revealed recipient female gender (odd ratio (OR) = 1.71), retransplantation (OR = 1.63), and increased donor age (OR = 1.02) as significant predictors of poor survival in the recipient population. Actuarial survival at 1 year (86.7% vs 81%), 5 years (75% vs 65%), and 10 years (56% vs 42%) was significantly different as well with a log rank p = 0.002.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that increased donor age is an independent predictor of long-term survival. However, the shortage of organs makes it difficult to follow strict guidelines when placing hearts; therefore, decisions need to be made on a relative basis.
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA. vktopara@hotmail.com
Veli K
VK
Topkara
Faisal H
FH
Cheema
Satish
S
Kesavaramanujam
Michelle L
ML
Mercando
Catherine S
CS
Forster
Michael
M
Argenziano
Barry C
BC
Esrig
Mehmet C
MC
Oz
Yoshifumi
Y
Naka
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D013997:Time Factors; D014019:Tissue Donors