Transplant Trial Watch

Creation of a quantitative recipient risk index for mortality prediction after cardiac transplantation (IMPACT).

Weiss E, Allen J, et al.

Annals of Thoracic Surgery 92(3): 914-921, 2011; discussion 921-912.


Aims
To develop a risk index based on recipient factors for accurate prediction of short-term mortality in orthotopic heart transplant patients to assist practitioners in identifying high-risk recipients.

Interventions
Not applicable

Participants
21,378 primary orthotopic heart transplantation recipients.

Outcomes
Variables with plausibility to predict 1 year mortality. Variables included donor age, ischemic time, creatinine clearance, heart failure etiology, pulmonary vascular resistance, ventricular assist device, diabetes mellitus and serum bilirubin.

Follow-up
Not applicable

CET Conclusions
The authors have used the UNOS database to develop a quantitative recipient risk score for use in orthotopic heart transplantation (21,378 recipients). This was developed in a very large training cohort with a smaller cohort used for validation. The risk score appeared to be highly predictive of one year mortality and may prove a very useful tool in prognosis and organ allocation in cardiac transplantation.

Quality notes
Methodological quality assessment is not applicable.

Trial registration
Not reported

Funding source
Non-industry funded