title: Simultaneous liver and kidney transplantation in elderly patients: Outcomes and validation of a clinical risk score for patient selection.
abstract: Introduction and aim. Many transplant programs have expanded eligibility to include patients previously ineligible because of advanced age. Outcomes of simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation (SLK) in recipients with advanced age are not known.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from patients undergoing transplantation between 2002 and 2015 were obtained from the UNOS Standard Analysis and Research file.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SLK recipients aged ≥ 65 years (N = 677), SLK recipients aged < 65 years (N = 4517), and recipients of liver transplant alone(LTA) aged ≥ 65 years(N = 8495) were compared. Recipient characteristics were similar between the SLK groups. Similar patient and graft survival were observed in SLK recipients aged ≥ 65 years compared to SLK recipients aged < 65 years and LTA recipients aged ≥ 65 years. Importantly, in a subgroup analysis, superior survival was seen in the SLK group aged ≥ 65 years compared to LTA recipients aged ≥ 65 years who underwent dialysis in the week prior to transplantation (p < 0.001). A prediction model of patient survival was developed for the SLK group aged ≥ 65 years with predictors including: age ≥ 70 years (3 points), calculated MELD score (-1 to 2 points), and recipient ventilator status at the time of SLK (4 points). The risk score predicted patient survival, with a significantly inferior survival seen in patients with a score ≥ 4 (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age should not be used as a contraindication for SLK transplantation. The validated scoring system provides a guide for patient selection and can be used when evaluating elderly patients for SLK transplantation listing.
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic Collaborative in Transplant Research and Outcomes. Department of Transplant. Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Kristopher P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Croome
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic Collaborative in Transplant Research and Outcomes. Department of Transplant. Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: David D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic Collaborative in Transplant Research and Outcomes. Department of Transplant. Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Justin M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic Collaborative in Transplant Research and Outcomes. Department of Transplant. Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Dana K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic Collaborative in Transplant Research and Outcomes. Department of Transplant. Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Justin H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic Collaborative in Transplant Research and Outcomes. Department of Transplant. Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Keaveny
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic Collaborative in Transplant Research and Outcomes. Department of Transplant. Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Hani M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Wadei
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic Collaborative in Transplant Research and Outcomes. Department of Transplant. Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: C Burcin
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Taner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States