Lung Transplant Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Lung Transplant, including details on risks, prognosis, procedure, surgery, organ donation.

Risk factors for death of patients with cystic fibrosis awaiting lung transplantation.

Belkin RA, Henig NR, Singer LG, Chaparro C, Rubenstein RC, Xie SX, Yee JY, Kotloff RM, Lipson DA, Bunin GR

Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA. rbelkin@sansumclinic.org

RATIONALE: The optimal timing for listing of cystic fibrosis patients for lung transplantation is controversial. OBJECTIVES: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 343 patients listed for lung transplantation at four academic medical centers to identify risk factors for death while awaiting transplantation. METHODS: Data on possible risk factors were abstracted from medical records. MEASUREMENTS: Time to death, patient demographic characteristics, and risk factors for death while awaiting transplantation were assessed. Univariate and multivariate survival analyses were performed using Cox regression. RESULTS: By univariate analyses, FEV1 < or = 30% predicted (HR, 3.8; 95% CI, 2.0-7.5), Pa(CO2) > or = 50 mm Hg (HR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.1-3.0), and shorter height (HR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1-3.0) were associated with a higher risk of death. Referral from an accredited cystic fibrosis center was associated with a lower risk (HR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.30-0.92). The final multivariate model included referral from an accredited cystic fibrosis center (HR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.3-1.0) and listing year after 1996 (HR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2-0.7); both were associated with a lower risk of death. FEV1 < or = 30% predicted (HR, 6.8; 95% CI, 2.4-19.3), Pa(CO2) > or = 50 mm Hg (HR, 6.9; 95% CI, 1.5-32.1), and use of a nutritional intervention (HR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.3-4.1) were associated with increased risk. Patients with FEV1 > 30% predicted had a higher risk of death only when their Pa(CO2) was > or = 50 mm Hg (HR, 7.0; 95% CI, 1.5-32), while the increased risk of death with FEV1 < or = 30% was not further influenced by the presence of hypercapnia. CONCLUSIONS: We identified risk factors for waiting list mortality that could impact on transplant listing and allocation guidelines.

Published 8 March 2006 in Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 173(6): 659-66.
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