Health Locus of Control and Health Behaviors in Organ Transplant Recipients: A Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND: Adherence to health behaviors and to immunosuppressant medications are variables among heart transplant recipients with potential life-threatening outcomes. It is understood that patients with psychosocial barriers are at increased risk of poor outcomes due to various factors. Health locus of control includes any activity that can be done to prevent health problems. Health locus of control is defined as individual beliefs based on past experiences in health issues and having internal and or external control. The literature suggests that patients with a strong internal locus of control have a sense of responsibility for their health behaviors. PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of the health locus of control on the level of self-reported health behaviors among organ transplant recipients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional design was used for this study. The study group comprises 222 individuals after heart, kidney, lung, and liver transplantation. The following standardized tools were used: The Multidimensional Health Locus of Control, The Health Behavior Inventory, Morisky Medication-Taking Adherence Scale 4-item. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS. The level of significance for the statistical test was set at 0.05. RESULTS: Powerful Others scored the highest among the 3 Health Locus of Control scales in heart, kidney, and liver recipients. Participants paid little attention to Healthy eating habits; however, the total score of the Health Behavior Inventory was high (91.68-94.40). There was a difference between the kind of transplant and center for 4 aspects of health behavior. Higher scores of The Multidimensional Health Locus of Control were associated with higher scores of Health Behaviors and level of adherence. Greater Powerful Others and Internal Health Locus of control predict higher health behaviors explaining 42 % of the variance. CONCLUSIONS: The intensification of declared health behaviors is high. However, in educating posttransplant patients, attention should be paid to strengthening proper healthy eating habits. Associations between health locus of control dimensions and health behavior have been shown among transplant recipients. The health locus of control significantly predicts the intensity of health behaviors. these findings support the need to consider health control beliefs while designing preventive strategies in this group of patients.

First in Poland Simultaneous Liver-Lung Transplantation With Liver-First Approach for Recipient Due to Cystic Fibrosis: A Case Report.

Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal progressive disease affecting the lung, pancreas, and liver. Some patients develop end-stage respiratory and liver failure. For such patients, combined lung-liver transplantation remains the only therapeutic option. In this article we present the first simultaneous lung-liver transplantation in Poland, as well as in Central and Eastern Europe, with detailed clinical history, surgical aspects, and postoperative course.

Level of Life Quality in Heart and Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Multicenter Study.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of the researchers was to determine the level of life quality among heart and kidney transplant recipients depending on the time and type of the transplant. METHODS: The study was conducted using standardized questionnaires: the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey, Life Orientation Test-Revised, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The study included 146 recipients (109 heart transplant recipients and 37 kidney transplant recipients) from 1 to 26 years after the transplantation surgery (mean 9 years). RESULTS: The mean age of the study group was 52 years. The mean time since organ transplantation was 10 years for heart transplantation and 4.3 years for kidney transplantation. The study group obtained a slightly lower score for quality of life compared to the general population. In the Physical Component Summary (PCS), the study participants obtained the highest mean for the domain bodily pain (47.6), while the lowest score was in the domain role physical (41.82). As for the Mental Component Summary (MCS), the highest mean was obtained for the domain vitality (50.57), whereas the lowest one was for the domain role emotional (43.38). In 33% of the participants, risk of depression was identified. Statistically significant differences were observed depending on the type of the transplanted organ in the PCS for the domains general health, physical functioning, and bodily pain and the MCS for role emotional and social functioning. The statistically significant predictors for the PCS domain were the type of transplanted organ, recipients' age, and occurrence of anxiety. In turn, the predictor for the MCS was the occurrence of depression. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of life (QOL) assessment varies between kidney and heart transplant recipients. The QOL is determined by the recipients' age and the occurrence of anxiety and depression. The obtained QOL assessment results are slightly lower than those in the general population.

Mechanical circulatory support restores eligibility for heart transplant in patients with significant pulmonary hypertension.

BACKGROUND: An increasing number of patients with end­stage heart failure implies a wider use of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). Irreversible pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a predictor of unfavorable prognosis and a contraindication to orthotopic heart transplant (OHT). AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of continuous­flow LVAD (CF­LVAD) support on pulmonary pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) as well as the impact of pre­LVAD hemodynamic parameters on survival during LVAD support. METHODS: Data collected from 106 patients who underwent CF­LVAD implantation in the years 2009 to 2018 (men, 95.3%; mean [SD] age, 51.8 [12] years; mean [SD] INTERMACS profile, 2.9 [1.6]; mean [SD] LVAD support time, 661 [520] days; follow­up until May 2019) were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Right heart catheterization was performed before LVAD implantation in 94 patients (88.7%), after implantation-in 31 (29.2%), and before and after implantation-in 28 (26.4%). We observed mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) >25 mm Hg in 65 patients (61.3%) and PVR >2.5 Wood units in 33 patients (31.1%) before LVAD implantation. A significant improvement after CF­LVAD implantation was noted in mPAP, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, transpulmonary gradient, PVR, cardiac output (P <0.001 for all parameters), and cardiac index (P = 0.003). All patients with initially irreversible PH became eligible for OHT during LVAD support. Survival during LVAD support did not depend on initial mPAP and PVR. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with end­stage heart failure, CF­LVAD support leads to a significant reduction of pre­ and postcapillary PH. Survival on CF­LVAD support is independent of elevated mPAP and PVR before implantation, which suggests that LVADs decrease the risk associated with PH.

Suboptimal Donors Do Not Mean Worse Results: A Single-Center Study of Extending Donor Criteria for Lung Transplant.

BACKGROUND: Lung transplant remains the only viable treatment for most of the end-stage lung diseases. It is believed that extending criteria for donor lungs would increase the number of lung transplants. The aim of the study was to compare the graft function by means of oxygenation index among recipients who received the lungs from donors of extended criteria with those whose received lungs from donors who met the standard criteria. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed 71 donors whose lungs where transplanted into 71 first-time double lung recipients of 2 groups: patients who received transplants before and after 2018. The objective was to assess whether there is a significant difference in quality of the donor pool after applying extended criteria. The second objective was to compare results of recipients with lungs from donors of oxygenation index > 400 mm Hg with those obtained among recipients with this parameter < 400 mm Hg. RESULTS: In the case of transplants performed in 2018 to 2019, oxygenation indices were significantly lower in donors but significantly higher in recipients on the first day than those observed in 2015 to 2017. The number of transplants increased from 9 per year to 22 per year. Irrespective of whether the donor had PaO2/fraction of inspired oxygen above or below 400 mm Hg, recipients showed similar oxygenation index values after transplant (mean oxygenation index, 462 vs 412 mm Hg, respectively). Short-term mortality did not differ either. CONCLUSIONS: Extended criteria of lungs suitability as a potential grafts not only increases the donor pool but also proves that suboptimal donors are not associated with producing inferior results of the recipients.

Donor-related Risk Factors Associated With Increased Mortality After Lung Transplant.

BACKGROUND: Lung transplant is a surgical procedure for end-stage lung disease. Many factors related to lung donors influence the outcome of transplant. The main aim of this single-center study was to assess which donor-related and procedure-related factors would influence the 30-day or hospital mortality of the recipients. METHODS: This retrospective study group consisted of 110 donor-recipient pairs undergoing lung transplant between 2012 and 2017 (group 1) and 2018 and 2019 (group 2) in Silesian Center for Heart Diseases. Both groups of donor- and procedure-related factors were included in the analysis: oxygenation index at reporting of the donor, time donor spent in the intensive care unit (ICU), presence of cardiac arrest while being in the ICU, donor age, type of transplant, cumulative ischemia time, duration of the operation, and time of mechanical ventilation. RESULTS: The type of surgery was significantly associated with an increase in the chance of death within 30 days. Patients who underwent single lung transplant had a 20.217 times greater chance of dying within 30 days than patients after double lung transplant (interquartile range, 2.116-193.125). CONCLUSIONS: Single lung transplant increases the risk of death during the first 30 days after lung transplant, and using lungs from older donors may increase the rate of hospital mortality. Oxygenation index, sudden cardiac arrest of the donors, and donor time spent in the ICU do not impact the short-term mortality of lung graft recipients.

Obesity in patients with end-stage heart failure.

Obesity poses an increasing problem in patients with end-stage heart failure (HF). The most commonly used indicator of obesity is body mass index. The value of this parameter is widely taken into consideration when selecting the best way of treatment for patients with advanced HF. The aim of this paper is to outline the recent knowledge about obesity in the abovementioned group of patients.

Prognostic utility of the N terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide and the modified Model for End Stage Liver Disease in patients with end stage heart failure.

INTRODUCTION    The N terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT proBNP) is secreted by cardiomyocytes in response to increased wall stress resulting from pressure and volume overload. The modified Model for End Stage Liver Disease (modMELD) scale reflects the systemic effect of heart failure (HF), which includes end-organ congestion and subsequent hepatic and renal dysfunction. OBJECTIVES    The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic accuracy of NT proBNP and the modMELD score, as well as to compare their usefulness in the risk stratification of patients with end-stage HF awaiting orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT). PATIENTS AND METHODS    We retrospectively analyzed the data of 641 consecutive adult patients awaiting OHT between 2012 and 2016. Exclusion criteria included "urgent status", OHT, and removal from the waiting list. Clinical and laboratory data were obtained at the time of admission to the waiting list. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality during a one-year follow up. RESULTS    In the overall population of 370 patients, the median age was 54.0 (46.0-60.0) years, and 87.6% of the patients were male. During the follow-up period, the mortality rate was 27.6%. The areas under the curve (AUCs) were 0.619 (95% CI: 0.557-0.681) for NT proBNP and 0.870 (95% CI: 0.833-0.906) for modMELD. The difference between the AUC for modMELD and NT proBNP was 0.251 (95% CI: 0.179-0.322, P <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS    The usefulness of NT proBNP in evaluating the prognosis of patients with end stage HF awaiting OHT is limited. The modMELD score is a better prognostic marker of waiting list mortality than the NT proBNP serum concentration.

Prognostic value of selected risk scales in patients with end-stage heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Due to the increasing number of patients placed on waiting lists for orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT), the selection of patients with the highest risk of death has become paramount. AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of the Model for End-stage Liver Disease eXcluding INR (MELD-XI) and Meta-Analysis Global Group in Chronic Heart Failure (MAGGIC) scales in ambulatory patients awaiting OHT and compare them to the Heart Failure Survival Score (HFSS). METHODS: The study was a retrospective review of 370 adult ambulatory patients with end-stage heart failure, who were added to the OHT waiting list at our institution between 2012 and 2016. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 54.0 (46.0-60.0) years, and 324 (87.6%) of them were male. The overall one-year mortality was 27.6%. The areas under the curve (AUCs) for the MAGGIC and HFSS scales were comparable: 0.771 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.720-0.823); sensitivity 77%, specificity 68% vs. 0.781 (95% CI 0.732-0.829); sensitivity 90%, specificity 58%, respectively. The AUC for the MELD-XI scale was higher than that for the HFSS scale: 0.812 (95% CI 0.769-0.856); sensitivity 91%, specificity 63% vs. 0.781 (95% CI 0.732-0.829) sensitivity 90%, specificity 58%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that elevated MELD-XI and MAGGIC scores and lowered HFSS scores were associated with an increased risk of death during one-year follow-up. The prognostic utility of the MELD-XI scoring system was better than that of the HFSS scale, while the MAGGIC scale was comparable to the HFSS.

Clinical features, management and mortality in diabetic and non-diabetic patients with heart failure - observations from the COMMIT-HF registry.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes mellitus (DM) and heart failure (HF) are two common diseases that often co-exist. AIM: To explore clinical characteristics, management strategies and rates of 3-year mortality among diabetic and non-diabetic patients hospitalised in a highly specialized interventional cardiology centre. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We used data from COMMIT-HF (COnteMporary Modalities In Treatment of Heart Failure), which is a single-centre, observational, prospective registry of patients with symptomatic chronic systolic HF (LVEF < 35%). Data collected included demographics, clinical characteristics, medical history, inpatient therapies and procedures. Follow-up was based on the information acquired from the national health-care provider. RESULTS: We analysed 1397 patients out of the total of 1798 patients included in the COMMIT-HF registry between 2009 and 2013. We identified 595 (42.6%) diabetic and 802 (57.4%) non-diabetic patients. Compared to patients without DM, patients with type 2 DM had a higher rate of comorbidity. Frequency of death in patients with DM during the 3-year follow-up was significantly higher than in patients without DM (199 (33.4%) vs. 163 (20.3%), p < 0.0001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In the analysed HF population representing patients receiving typical, everyday clinical care, the prevalence of DM is 42.6%. Diabetes mellitus has deleterious effects on renal function and symptoms as assessed by the New York Heart Association functional class. DM remains associated with increased frequency of death in patients with HF, in spite of recent pharmacological and device-based advances in HF management.

The role of statins in chronic heart failure.

The efficacy of statins in reducing morbidity and mortality in patients with documented coronary artery disease is unquestionable. However, in chronic heart failure (CHF), evidence regarding the beneficial effects of statin therapy remains contradictory. Although numerous retrospective studies have demonstrated improved prognosis in CHF patients treated with statins, two randomized trials, GISSI-HF and CORONA, have not confirmed the benefit of rosuvastatin in this group of patients. The benefits of using statins in CHF probably result mostly from their pleiotropic action, including the improvement of endothelial function, the inhibition of neurohormonal activation, and the reduction of proinflammatory activation. On the other hand, it has been recognized that low cholesterol is associated with worse morbidity and mortality in patients with CHF. It appears that it is necessary to conduct further randomized clinical trials using different kinds of statins in different populations of patients with CHF.