Incidence, Clinical Correlates, and Outcomes of Pulmonary Hypertension After Kidney Transplantation: Analysis of Linked US Registry and Medicare Billing Claims.

BACKGROUND: The incidence, risks, and outcomes associated with pulmonary hypertension (P-HTN) in the kidney transplant (KTx) population are not well described. METHODS: We linked US transplant registry data with Medicare claims (2006-2016) to investigate P-HTN diagnoses among Medicare-insured KTx recipients (N = 35 512) using billing claims. Cox regression was applied to identify independent correlates and outcomes of P-HTN (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 95%LCLaHR95%UCL) and to examine P-HTN diagnoses as time-dependent mortality predictors. RESULTS: Overall, 8.2% of recipients had a diagnostic code for P-HTN within 2 y preceding transplant. By 3 y posttransplant, P-HTN was diagnosed in 10.310.6%11.0 of the study cohort. After adjustment, posttransplant P-HTN was more likely in KTx recipients who were older (age ≥60 versus 18-30 y a HR, 1.912.403.01) or female (aHR, 1.151.241.34), who had pretransplant P-HTN (aHR, 4.384.795.24), coronary artery disease (aHR, 1.051.151.27), valvular heart disease (aHR, 1.221.321.43), peripheral vascular disease (aHR, 1.051.181.33), chronic pulmonary disease (aHR, 1.201.311.43), obstructive sleep apnea (aHR, 1.151.281.43), longer dialysis duration, pretransplant hemodialysis (aHR, 1.171.371.59), or who underwent transplant in the more recent era (2012-2016 versus 2006-2011: aHR, 1.291.391.51). Posttransplant P-HTN was associated with >2.5-fold increased risk of mortality (aHR, 2.572.843.14) and all-cause graft failure (aHR, 2.422.642.88) within 3 y posttransplant. Outcome associations of newly diagnosed posttransplant P-HTN were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Posttransplant P-HTN is diagnosed in 1 in 10 KTx recipients and is associated with an increased risk of death and graft failure. Future research is needed to refine diagnostic, classification, and management strategies to improve outcomes in KTx recipients who develop P-HTN.

National Early Career Transplant Hepatologist Survey: Compensation, Burnout, and Job Satisfaction.

Despite the growth of transplant hepatology as a subspecialty over the past decade, data on professional roles and compensation models remain lacking. Furthermore, the prevalence of physician burnout and job satisfaction are unknown in this profession. We aimed to conduct a comprehensive assessment of early career transplant hepatologists to fill these voids in knowledge and to inform current and future transplant hepatologists. An online survey designed to quantify clinical and nonclinical roles, compensation and structure, job satisfaction, and burnout was sent to 256 early career transplant hepatologists. Respondents were divided into three practice settings: university hospital clinical (n = 79), non-university hospital clinical (n = 35), and research (n = 25). The median age of respondents was 38 (interquartile range [IQR] 36-40) years, and 44% were women. The median half-days/week spent in clinic was 4 (IQR 3-6) and in endoscopy was 1 (IQR 1-2). Most of the respondents provided inpatient care (88%) for a median of 9 (IQR 6.5-10) weeks/year. The median base compensation was $300,000 (IQR US $263,750-$326,250), and most (76%) had salary-based compensation. Although only 8% of respondents were dissatisfied with their position, the prevalence of burnout was high at 35%. Conclusion: This survey is a comprehensive assessment focusing on early career transplant hepatologists, is reflective of the current training paradigm and practice of transplant hepatology, and provides transparency to guide professional negotiations and empower both trainees pursuing careers in transplant hepatology and early career transplant hepatologists.

Barriers to ideal outcomes after pediatric liver transplantation.

Long-term survival for children who undergo LT is now the rule rather than the exception. However, a focus on the outcome of patient or graft survival rates alone provides an incomplete and limited view of life for patients who undergo LT as an infant, child, or teen. The paradigm has now appropriately shifted to opportunities focused on our overarching goals of "surviving and thriving" with long-term allograft health, freedom of complications from long-term immunosuppression, self-reported well-being, and global functional health. Experts within the liver transplant community highlight clinical gaps and potential barriers at each of the pretransplant, intra-operative, early-, medium-, and long-term post-transplant stages toward these broader mandates. Strategies including clinical research, innovation, and quality improvement targeting both traditional as well as PRO are outlined and, if successfully leveraged and conducted, would improve outcomes for recipients of pediatric LT.

Opioid and opioid substitution therapy in liver transplant candidates: A survey of center policies and practices.

This national survey sought to determine the practices and policies pertaining to opioid and opioid substitution therapy (OST) use in the selection of liver transplant (LT) candidates. Of 114 centers, 61 (53.5%) responded to the survey, representing 49.2% of the LT volume in 2016. Only two programs considered chronic opioid (1 [1.6%]) or OST use (1 [1.6%]) absolute contraindications to transplant, while 63.9% and 37.7% considered either one a relative contraindication, respectively. The majority of programs did not have a written policy regarding chronic opioid use (73.8%) or OST use (78.7%) in LT candidates. Nearly half (45.9%) of centers agreed that there should be a national consensus policy addressing opioid and OST use. The majority of responding LT centers did not consider opioid or OST use in LT candidates to be absolute contraindications to LT, but there was significant variability in center practices. These surveys also demonstrated a lack of written policies in the assessment of the candidacy of such patients. The results of our survey identify an opportunity to develop a national consensus statement regarding opioid and OST use in LT candidates to bring greater uniformity and equity into the selection of LT candidates.

The benefit of paracentesis on hospitalized adults with cirrhosis and ascites.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The aim of this study is to assess paracentesis utilization and outcomes in hospitalized adults with cirrhosis and ascites. METHODS: The 2011 Nationwide Inpatient Sample was used to identify adults, non-electively admitted with diagnoses of cirrhosis and ascites. The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality. Variables included patient and hospital demographics, early (Day 0 or 1) or late (Day 2 or later) paracentesis, hepatic decompensation, and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. RESULTS: Out of 8 023 590 admissions, 31 614 met inclusion criteria. Among these hospitalizations, approximately 51% (16 133) underwent paracentesis. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 7.6%. There was a significantly increased mortality among patients who did not undergo paracentesis (8.9% vs 6.3%, P < 0.001). Patients who did not receive paracentesis died 1.83 times more often in the hospital than those patients who did receive paracentesis (95% confidence interval 1.66-2.02). Patients undergoing early paracentesis showed a trend towards reduction in mortality (5.5% vs 7.5%) compared with those undergoing late paracentesis. Patients admitted on a weekend demonstrated less frequent use of early paracentesis (50% weekend vs 62% weekday) and demonstrated increased mortality (adjusted odds ratio 1.12 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.25). Among patients diagnosed with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, early paracentesis was associated with shorter length of stay (7.55 vs 11.45 days, P < 0.001) and decreased hospitalization cost ($61 624 vs $107 484, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Paracentesis is under-utilized among cirrhotic patients presenting with ascites and is associated with decreased in-hospital mortality. These data support the use of paracentesis as a key inpatient quality measure among hospitalized adults with cirrhosis. Future studies are needed to investigate the barriers to paracentesis use on admission.

Co-management between hospitalist and hepatologist improves the quality of care of inpatients with chronic liver disease.

BACKGROUND AND GOALS: Our institution shifted the care of patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) from Internal Medicine faculty, house staff, and consulting hepatology service to a co-managed unit staffed by academic hospitalists and hepatologists. The effect of co-management between hospitalists and hepatologists on the care of patients hospitalized with complications of CLD such as spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is unknown. STUDY: A retrospective chart review of 56 adult patients admitted with CLD and SBP from July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2010 was performed. Adherence rates to current management guidelines were measured along with costs and outcomes of care. RESULTS: Patients admitted under the 2 models of care were similar; however, they consistently underwent paracentesis within 24 hours (100% vs. 79%, P=0.013), had appropriate avoidance of fresh-frozen plasma use (75% vs. 43%, P=0.05), received albumin (97% vs. 65%, P=0.002), and were discharged on SBP prophylaxis (91% vs. 37%, P<0.001) under the co-managed model compared with the conventional model. Costs of care were similar between the 2 groups. We note a trend toward improved outcomes of care under the co-management model as measured by transfer rates to the intensive care unit, inpatient mortality, 30-day readmission, and mortality rates. CONCLUSIONS: These results support co-management between hospitalists and hepatologists as a superior model of care for hospitalized patients with SBP. Furthermore, this study adds to the growing literature indicating that efforts are needed to improve the quality of care delivered to CLD patients.