Heart Transplantation in the Elderly Patients: Midterm Results

BACKGROUND: Heart transplantation in elderly patients has raised concerns because of co-morbidities and limited life expectancy in the era of donor shortage. We examined the outcomes after heart transplantation in elderly patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 1994 to December 2011, 81 patients (male:female=64:17, 49.1±14.0 years) underwent heart transplantation. The outcomes after heart transplantation in the younger patients (<60 years; group Y, n=60) were compared with those in the elderly patients (≥60 years; group O, n=21). The follow-up duration was 51.8±62.7 months. RESULTS: Early mortality (≤30 days) occurred in 5.0% (3/60) and 4.8% (1/21) of groups Y and O, respectively (p>0.999). There were no differences in overall survival between the two groups (p=0.201). Freedom from rejection was higher in group O than in group Y (p=0.026). Multivariable analysis revealed that age ≥60 years was not a significant risk factor for long-term survival; postoperative renal failure was the only significant risk factor for long-term survival (p=0.011). CONCLUSION: Early and mid-term results of heart transplantation in elderly patients were similar to those in younger patients.