Impact of intrapatient blood level variability of calcineurin inhibitors on heart transplant outcomes.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Intrapatient blood level variability (IPV) of calcineurin inhibitors has been associated with poor outcomes in solid-organ transplant, but data for heart transplant are scarce. Our purpose was to ascertain the clinical impact of IPV in a multi-institutional cohort of heart transplant recipients. METHODS: We retrospectively studied patients aged ≥18 years, with a first heart transplant performed between 2000 and 2014 and surviving≥ 1 year. IPV was assessed by the coefficient of variation of trough levels from posttransplant months 4 to 12. A composite of rejection or mortality/graft loss or rejection and all-cause mortality/graft loss between years 1 to 5 posttransplant were analyzed by Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: The study group consisted of 1581 recipients (median age, 56 years; women, 21%). Cyclosporine immediate-release tacrolimus and prolonged-release tacrolimus were used in 790, 527 and 264 patients, respectively. On multivariable analysis, coefficient of variation> 27.8% showed a nonsignificant trend to association with 5-year rejection-free survival (HR, 1.298; 95%CI, 0.993-1.695; P=.056) and with 5-year mortality (HR, 1.387; 95%CI, 0.979-1.963; P=.065). Association with rejection became significant on analysis of only those patients without rejection episodes during the first year posttransplant (HR, 1.609; 95%CI, 1.129-2.295; P=.011). The tacrolimus-based formulation had less IPV than cyclosporine and better results with less influence of IPV. CONCLUSIONS: IPV of calcineurin inhibitors is only marginally associated with mid-term outcomes after heart transplant, particularly with the tacrolimus-based immunosuppression, although it could play a role in the most stable recipients.

Infectious complications associated with short-term mechanical circulatory support in urgent heart transplant candidates.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Short-term mechanical circulatory support is frequently used as a bridge to heart transplant in Spain. The epidemiology and prognostic impact of infectious complications in these patients are unknown. METHODS: Systematic description of the epidemiology of infectious complications and analysis of their prognostic impact in a multicenter, retrospective registry of patients treated with short-term mechanical devices as a bridge to urgent heart transplant from 2010 to 2015 in 16 Spanish hospitals. RESULTS: We studied 249 patients, of which 87 (34.9%) had a total of 102 infections. The most frequent site was the respiratory tract (n=47; 46.1%). Microbiological confirmation was obtained in 78 (76.5%) episodes, with a total of 100 causative agents, showing a predominance of gram-negative bacteria (n=58, 58%). Compared with patients without infection, those with infectious complications showed higher mortality during the support period (25.3% vs 12.3%, P=.009) and a lower probability of receiving a transplant (73.6% vs 85.2%, P=.025). In-hospital posttransplant mortality was similar in the 2 groups (with infection: 28.3%; without infection: 23.4%; P=.471). CONCLUSIONS: Patients supported with temporary devices as a bridge to heart transplant are exposed to a high risk of infectious complications, which are associated with higher mortality during the organ waiting period.

Results of heart retransplantation: subanalysis of the Spanish Heart Transplant Registry.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Heart retransplantation (ReHT) is controversial in the current era. The aim of this study was to describe and analyze the results of ReHT in Spain. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort analysis from the Spanish Heart Transplant Registry from 1984 to 2018. Data were collected on donors, recipients, surgical procedure characteristics, immunosuppression, and survival. The main outcome was posttransplant all-cause mortality or need for ReHT. We studied differences in survival according to indication for ReHT, the time interval between transplants and era of ReHT. RESULTS: A total of 7592 heart transplants (HT) and 173 (2.3%) ReHT were studied (median age, 52.0 and 55.0 years, respectively). Cardiac allograft vasculopathy was the most frequent indication for ReHT (42.2%) and 59 patients (80.8%) received ReHT >5 years after the initial transplant. Acute rejection and primary graft failure decreased as indications over the study period. Renal dysfunction, hypertension, need for mechanical ventilation or intra-aortic balloon pump and longer cold ischemia time were more frequent in ReHT. Median follow-up for ReHT was 5.8 years. ReHT had worse survival than HT (weighted HR, 1.43; 95%CI, 1.17-1.44; P<.001). The indication of acute rejection (HR, 2.49; 95%CI, 1.45-4.27; P<.001) was related to the worst outcome. ReHT beyond 5 years after initial HT portended similar results as primary HT (weighted HR, 1.14; 95%CI, 0.86-1.50; P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: ReHT was associated with higher mortality than HT, especially when indicated for acute rejection. ReHT beyond 5 years had a similar prognosis to primary HT.

A 3-Biomarker 2-Point-Based Risk Stratification Strategy in Acute Heart Failure.

Introduction and Objectives: Most multi-biomarker strategies in acute heart failure (HF) have only measured biomarkers in a single-point time. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic yielding of NT-proBNP, hsTnT, Cys-C, hs-CRP, GDF15, and GAL-3 in HF patients both at admission and discharge. Methods: We included 830 patients enrolled consecutively in a prospective multicenter registry. Primary outcome was 12-month mortality. The gain in the C-index, calibration, net reclassification improvement (NRI), and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) was calculated after adding each individual biomarker value or their combination on top of the best clinical model developed in this study (C-index 0.752, 0.715-0.789) and also on top of 4 currently used scores (MAGGIC, GWTG-HF, Redin-SCORE, BCN-bioHF). Results: After 12-month, death occurred in 154 (18.5%) cases. On top of the best clinical model, the addition of NT-proBNP, hs-CRP, and GDF-15 above the respective cutoff point at admission and discharge and their delta during compensation improved the C-index to 0.782 (0.747-0.817), IDI by 5% (p < 0.001), and NRI by 57% (p < 0.001) for 12-month mortality. A 4-risk grading categories for 12-month mortality (11.7, 19.2, 26.7, and 39.4%, respectively; p < 0.001) were obtained using combination of these biomarkers. Conclusion: A model including NT-proBNP, hs-CRP, and GDF-15 measured at admission and discharge afforded a mortality risk prediction greater than our clinical model and also better than the most currently used scores. In addition, this 3-biomarker panel defined 4-risk categories for 12-month mortality.

Spanish Heart Transplant Registry. 32nd Official Report of the Heart Failure Association of the Spanish Society of Cardiology.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The present report updates the main characteristics and outcomes of heart transplants in Spain to 2020. METHODS: We describe the main features of recipients, donors, surgical procedure, and immunosuppression in 2020. We also analyze the temporal trends of these characteristics and outcomes (survival) for the period 2011 to 2019. RESULTS: In 2020, 278 heart transplants were performed (7.3% decrease vs 2019). The findings in 2020 confirmed previous observations of an increase in pretransplant sternotomy, a slight decrease in urgent transplants carried out with ventricular assist devices, a slight decrease in donor age, an increase in the use of allografts with previous arrest, and a decrease in ischemia time. Survival continued to improve in recent triennia, reaching 82.0% at 1 year in the period 2017 to 2019. CONCLUSIONS: The slight decrease in the number of heart transplants performed in 2020 in Spain, most likely due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, did not change the main characteristics of the procedure. No change was observed in the tendency to improved survival.

The renal patient seen by non-renal physicians: the kidney embedded in the 'milieu intérieur'.

Chronic kidney disease is defined as a decrease in renal function or evidence of kidney injury for >3 months. This represents an oversimplification that may confuse physicians. Thus kidney function is equated to glomerular filtration rate, which represents one of multiple kidney functions. Some potentially more important renal functions are lost earlier, such as the production for the anti-ageing factor Klotho. Overall, these changes modify the emergent properties of the body, altering the relationships between different organs and systems, in a manner that is difficult to predict the response to interventions based on normal physiology concepts, as there is a novel steady state of interorgan relations. In this regard we now discuss the impact of CKD on heart failure; osteomuscular and joint pain and bone fragility and fractures; and osteosarcopaenia as seen by a cardiologist, a rheumatologist and a geriatrician.

Influence of Gender in Advanced Heart Failure Therapies and Outcome Following Transplantation.

Biological differences between males and females change the course of different diseases and affect therapeutic measures' responses. Heart failure is not an exception to these differences. Women account for a minority of patients on the waiting list for heart transplantation or other advanced heart failure therapies. The reason for this under-representation is unknown. Men have a worse cardiovascular risk profile and suffer more often from ischemic heart disease. Conversely, transplanted women are younger and more frequently have non-ischemic cardiac disorders. Women's poorer survival on the waiting list for heart transplantation has been previously described, but this trend has been corrected in recent years. The use of ventricular assist devices in women is progressively increasing, with comparable results than in men. The indication rate for a heart transplant in women (number of women on the waiting list for millions of habitants) has remained unchanged over the past 25 years. Long-term results of heart transplants are equal for both men and women. We have analyzed the data of a national registry of heart transplant patients to look for possible future directions for a more in-depth study of sex differences in this area. We have analyzed 1-year outcomes of heart transplant recipients. We found similar results in men and women and no sex-related interactions with any of the factors related to survival or differences in death causes between men and women. We should keep trying to approach sex differences in prospective studies to confirm if they deserve a different approach, which is not supported by current evidence.

Malignancy following heart transplantation: differences in incidence and prognosis between sexes - a multicenter cohort study.

Male patients are at increased risk for developing malignancy postheart transplantation (HT); however, real incidence and prognosis in both genders remain unknown. The aim of this study was to assess differences in incidence and mortality related to malignancy between genders in a large cohort of HT patients. Incidence and mortality rates were calculated for all tumors, skin cancers (SCs), lymphoma, and nonskin solid cancers (NSSCs) as well as survival since first diagnosis of neoplasia. 5865 patients (81.6% male) were included. Total incidence rates for all tumors, SCs, and NSSCs were lower in females [all tumors: 25.7 vs. 44.8 per 1000 person-years; rate ratio (RR) 0.68, (0.60-0.78), P < 0.001]. Mortality rates were also lower in females for all tumors [94.0 (77.3-114.3) vs. 129.6 (120.9-138.9) per 1000 person-years; RR 0.76, (0.62-0.94), P = 0.01] and for NSSCs [125.0 (95.2-164.0) vs 234.7 (214.0-257.5) per 1000 person-years; RR 0.60 (0.44-0.80), P = 0.001], albeit not for SCs or lymphoma. Female sex was associated with a better survival after diagnosis of malignancy [log-rank p test = 0.0037; HR 0.74 (0.60-0.91), P = 0.004]. In conclusion, incidence of malignancies post-HT is higher in males than in females, especially for SCs and NSSCs. Prognosis after cancer diagnosis is also worse in males.

Impact of donor-recipient age on cardiac transplant survival. Subanalysis of the Spanish Heart Transplant Registry.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The age of heart transplant recipients and donors is progressively increasing. It is likely that not all donor-recipient age combinations have the same impact on mortality. The objective of this work was to compare survival in transplant recipients according to donor-recipient age combinations. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of transplants performed between 1 January 1993 and 31 December 2017 in the Spanish Heart Transplant Registry. Pediatric transplants, retransplants and combined transplants were excluded (6505 transplants included). Four groups were considered: a) donor <50 years for recipient <65 years; b) donor <50 years for recipient ≥ 65 years; c) donor ≥ 50 years for recipient ≥ 65 years, and d) donor ≥ 50 years for recipient <65 years. RESULTS: The most frequent group was young donor for young recipient (73%). There were differences in the median survival between the groups (P <.001): a) younger-younger: 12.1 years, 95%CI, 11.5-12.6; b) younger-older: 9.1 years, 95%CI, 8.0-10.5; c) older-older: 7.5 years, 95%CI, 2.8-11.0; d) older-younger: 10.5 years, 95%CI, 9.6-12.1. On multivariate analysis, independent predictors of mortality were the age of the donor and the recipient (0.008 and 0.001, respectively). The worst combinations were older-older vs younger-younger (HR, 1.57; 95%CI, 1.22-2.01; P <.001) and younger-older vs younger-younger (HR, 1.33; 95%CI, 1.12-1.58; P=.001). CONCLUSIONS: Age (of the donor and recipient) is a relevant prognostic factor in heart transplant. The donor-recipient age combination has prognostic implications that should be identified when accepting an organ for transplant.

Effect of sildenafil on right ventricular performance in an experimental large-animal model of postcapillary pulmonary hypertension.

Right ventricle (RV) dysfunction is a main determinant of morbidity and mortality in postcapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, currently there are not available therapies. Since reduced nitric oxide (NO) availability and cyclic guanylate monophosphate (cGMP) levels are central in this disease, therapies targeting the NO pathway might have a beneficial effect on RV performance. In this regard, sildenafil has shown contradictory results. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of sildenafil on RV performance in an experimental pig model of postcapillary PH induced by a fixed banding of the venous pulmonary confluent. Animals were evaluated by right heart catheterization and cardiac magnetic resonance before randomization and after 8 weeks on sildenafil (n = 8) or placebo (n = 8), and myocardial tissues were analyzed with histology and molecular biology. At the end of the study, animals receiving sildenafil showed better RV performance as compared with those on placebo (improvement in RV ejection fraction of 7.3% ± 5.8% versus -0.6% ± 5.0%, P= 0.021) associated with less apoptotic cells and gene expression related with reduced oxidative stress and increased anti-inflammatory activity in the myocardium. No differences were observed in pulmonary hemodynamics. In conclusion, in a translational large animal model of chronic postcapillary PH, sildenafil improved RV systolic function independently of afterload. Further research with pharmacological approaches able to manipulate the NO-cGMP axis are needed to confirm this potential cardioprotective effect.

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in heart transplant recipients: Is mortality decreasing?

INTRODUCTION: Infection remains a major complication among heart transplant (HT) recipients, causing approximately 20% of deaths in the first year after transplantation. In this population, Aspergillus species can have various clinical presentations including invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA), which has high mortality (53-78%). AIMS: To establish the characteristics of IPA infection in HT recipients and their outcomes in our setting. METHODS: Of 328 heart transplantations performed in our center between 1998 and 2016, five cases of IPA were identified. Patient medical records were examined and clinical variables were extracted. RESULTS: All cases were male, with a mean age of 62 years. The most common indication for HT was nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. Productive cough was reported as the main symptom. The imaging assessment was based on chest radiography and chest computed tomography. The most commonly reported radiological abnormality was multiple nodular opacities in both techniques. Bronchoscopy was performed in all patients and A. fumigatus was isolated in four cases on BAL culture. Treatment included amphotericin in four patients, subsequently changed to voriconazole in three patients, and posaconazole in one patient, with total treatment lasting an average of 12 months. Neutropenia was found in only one patient, renal failure was observed in two patients, and concurrent cytomegalovirus infection occurred in three patients. All patients survived after a mean follow-up of 18 months. CONCLUSIONS: IPA is a potentially lethal complication after HT. An early diagnosis and prompt initiation of aggressive treatment are the cornerstone for better survival.

Registro Español de Trasplante Cardiaco. XXXI Informe Oficial de la Asociación de Insuficiencia Cardiaca de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología / Spanish Heart Transplant Registry. 31th Official Report of the Heart Failure Association of the Spanish Society of Cardiology

INTRODUCCIÓN Y OBJETIVOS: Se presentan las características clínicas y los resultados de los trasplantes cardiacos realizados en España con la actualización correspondiente a 2019. MÉTODOS: Se describen las características clínicas y los resultados de los trasplantes cardiacos realizados en 2019, así como las tendencias de estos en el periodo 2010-2018. RESULTADOS: En 2019 se realizaron 300 trasplantes (8.794 desde 1984; 2.745 entre 2010 y 2019). Respecto a años previos, los cambios más llamativos son el descenso hasta el 38% de los trasplantes realizados en código urgente, y la consolidación en el cambio de asistencia circulatoria pretrasplante, con la práctica desaparición del balón de contrapulsación (0,7%), la estabilización del uso del oxigenador extracorpóreo de membrana (9,6%) y el aumento de los dispositivos de asistencia ventricular (29%). La supervivencia en el trienio 2016-2018 es similar a la del trienio 2013-2015 (p = 0,34), y ambas mejores que la del trienio 2010-2012 (p = 0,002 y p = 0,01 respectivamente). CONCLUSIONES: Se mantienen estables tanto la actividad del trasplante cardiaco en España como los resultados en supervivencia en los últimos 2 trienios. Hay una tendencia a realizar menos trasplantes urgentes, la mayoría con dispositivos de asistencia ventricular

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The present report describes the clinical characteristics and outcomes of heart transplants in Spain and updates the data to 2019. METHODS: We describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of heart transplants performed in Spain in 2019, as well as trends in this procedure from 2010 to 2018. RESULTS: In 2019, 300 transplants were performed (8794 since 1984; 2745 between 2010 and 2019). Compared with previous years, the most notable findings were the decreasing rate of urgent transplants (38%), and the consolidation of the type of circulatory support prior to transplant, with an almost complete disappearance of counterpulsation balloon (0.7%), stabilization in the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (9.6%), and an increase in the use of ventricular assist devices (29.0%). Survival from 2016 to 2018 was similar to that from 2013 to 2015 (P=.34). Survival in both these periods was better than that from 2010 to 2012 (P=.002 and P=.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Heart transplant activity has remained stable during the last few years, as have outcomes (in terms of survival). There has been a trend to a lower rate of urgent transplants and to a higher use of ventricular assist devices prior to transplant

Spanish Heart Transplant Registry. 31th Official Report of the Heart Failure Association of the Spanish Society of Cardiology.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The present report describes the clinical characteristics and outcomes of heart transplants in Spain and updates the data to 2019. METHODS: We describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of heart transplants performed in Spain in 2019, as well as trends in this procedure from 2010 to 2018. RESULTS: In 2019, 300 transplants were performed (8794 since 1984; 2745 between 2010 and 2019). Compared with previous years, the most notable findings were the decreasing rate of urgent transplants (38%), and the consolidation of the type of circulatory support prior to transplant, with an almost complete disappearance of counterpulsation balloon (0.7%), stabilization in the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (9.6%), and an increase in the use of ventricular assist devices (29.0%). Survival from 2016 to 2018 was similar to that from 2013 to 2015 (P=.34). Survival in both these periods was better than that from 2010 to 2012 (P=.002 and P=.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Heart transplant activity has remained stable during the last few years, as have outcomes (in terms of survival). There has been a trend to a lower rate of urgent transplants and to a higher use of ventricular assist devices prior to transplant.

Gender differences in heart transplantation: Twenty-five year trends in the nationwide Spanish heart transplant registry.

The study of gender differences may lead into improvement in patient care. We have aimed to identify the gender differences in heart transplantation (HT) of adult HT recipients in Spain and their evolution in a study covering the years 1993-2017 in which 6740 HT (20.6% in women) were performed. HT indication rate per million inhabitants was lower in women, remaining basically unchanged during the 25-year study period. HT rate was higher in men, although this decreased over the 25-year study period. Type of heart disease differed in men versus women (p < .001): ischemic heart disease 47.6% versus 22.5%, dilated cardiomyopathy 41.3% versus 34.6%, or other 36% versus 17.8%, respectively. Men were more frequently diabetics (18% vs. 13.1% p < .001), hypertensives (33.1% vs. 24% p < .001), and smokers (21.7% vs. 12.9% p < .001), respectively. Women had more pre-HT malignancies (7.1% vs. 2.8% p < .001), and their clinical status was worse at HT due to renal function and mechanical ventilation. Adjusted survival (p = .198) and most of the mortality-related variables were similar in men and women. Death occurred more frequently in women due to rejection (7.9% vs. 5.1% p < .001) and primary failure (18.2% vs. 12.5% p < .001) and in men due to malignancies (15.1% vs. 6.6% p < .001).

Cold ischemia >4 hours increases heart transplantation mortality. An analysis of the Spanish heart transplantation registry.

BACKGROUND: Cold ischemia time (CIT) has been associated to heart transplantation (HT) prognosis. However, there is still uncertainty regarding the CIT cutoff value that might have relevant clinical implications. METHODS: We analyzed all adults that received a first HT during the period 2008-2018. CIT was defined as the time between the cross-clamp of the donor aorta and the reperfusion of the heart. Primary outcome was 1-month mortality. RESULTS: We included 2629 patients, mean age was 53.3 ± 12.1 years and 655 (24.9%) were female. Mean CIT was 202 ± 67 min (minimum 20 min, maximum 600 min). One-month mortality per CIT quartile was 9, 12, 13, and 19%. One-year mortality per CIT quartile was 16, 19, 21, and 28%. CIT was an independent predictor of 1-month mortality, but only in the last quartile of CIT >246 min (odds ratio 2.1, 95% confidence interval 1.49-3.08, p < .001). We found no relevant differences in CIT during the study period. However, the impact of CIT in 1-month and 1-year mortality decreased with time (p value for the distribution of ischemic time by year 0.01), particularly during the last 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Although the impact of CIT in HT prognosis seems to be decreasing in the last years, CIT in the last quartile (>246 min) is associated with 1-month and 1-year mortality. Our findings suggest the need to limit HT with CIT > 246 min or to use different myocardial preservation systems if the expected CIT is >4 h.

Incidence of vasoplegic syndrome after cardiac transplantation in patients treated with sacubitril/valsartan.

Vasoplegic syndrome (VS) is associated with poor outcomes after heart transplantation (HT). Our aim was to determine whether SAC/VALS is associated with VS after HT. We retrospectively analyzed all consecutive HT performed in three centers between January 2017 and August 2018. VS was defined as vasopressor need (norepinephrine or epinephrine >.5 mcg/kg/min or vasopressin) for more than 24 hours to maintain a mean arterial pressure >70 mm Hg. Ninety-six recipients underwent HT in the study period: 60 elective HT with no LVAD, 5 elective HT on long term LVAD, and 31 emergent HT: 3 on long-term LVAD and 28 on temporary mechanical circulatory support. Fourteen patients were on SAC/VALS treatment at the time of transplant, and 82 were not. The global incidence of VS was 15.6%, with no significant differences between the groups (7.14% in with SAC/VALS vs 17.07% in no-SAC/VALS). In conclusion, in our small cohort SAC/VALS was not associated with VS development.

Impact of mechanical circulatory support on survival in pediatric heart transplantation.

Evidence on the impact of MCS on pediatric heart transplant survival is still scarce related to congenital heart disease patients including univentricular physiology as well as the risk factors for complications. We performed a retrospective review of all urgent pediatric (aged ≤16 years) HT from 2004 to 2014 in the Spanish Pediatric Heart Transplant Registry Group. Patients were stratified into two groups: urgent 0 (MCS at HT) and urgent 1 (non-MCS at HT). The primary outcome measure was post-transplant survival; secondary outcome measures were complications and absence of infections and rejection during the first post-transplant year. One hundred twenty-one pediatric patients underwent urgent HT, 58 (47.9%) urgent 0 and 63 (52%) urgent 1. There were 30 (24.8%) deaths: 12 in the urgent 0 group and 18 in the urgent 1 group, P = n.s. Regarding the type of MCS, patients on ECMO had the highest rate of complications (80%) and mortality (40%). Patients in the urgent 1 group showed a higher risk of hospital re-admission for infection during the first year after transplantation (OR 2.31 [1.1-4.82]), P = .025. We did not identify a risk factor for mortality. MCS does not impact negatively on survival after HT. However, there is a significant increase in 30-day and 1-year mortality and complications in ECMO patients compared with VAD patients. Infants, congenital heart disease, and PediMACS were not found to be risk factors for mortality.

Registro Español de Trasplante Cardiaco. XXX Informe Oficial de la Sección de Insuficiencia Cardiaca de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología (1984-2018) / panish Heart Transplant Registry. 30th Official Report of the Spanish Society of Cardiology Working Group on Heart Failure (1984-2018)

Introducción y objetivos: Se presentan las características clínicas y los resultados de los trasplantes cardiacos realizados en España con la actualización correspondiente a 2018. Métodos: Registro prospectivo de todos los pacientes trasplantados en España entre 1984 y 2018, con un análisis específico de las tendencias temporales de las características clínicas y los resultados del periodo 2009-2017. Resultados: En 2018 se realizaron 321 trasplantes (8.494 desde 1984; 2.719 entre 2009 y 2018). Con respecto al año previo, en 2018 los trasplantes han aumentado un 52% en receptores menores de 16 años y un 42% en mayores de 60. En la última década, existen tendencias temporales significativas que apuntan a una mejor función renal previa al trasplante, más receptores diabéticos, más trasplantes urgentes, mayor uso de asistencia circulatoria antes del trasplante (particularmente con dispositivos de asistencia ventricular), mayor edad de los donantes, más donantes mujeres, más donantes fallecidos de accidente cerebrovascular y con parada cardiaca antes de la donación y menor tiempo de isquemia. Se observa una mejora significativa en la supervivencia en la última década, mediada fundamentalmente por una menor mortalidad por fallo primario del injerto. Conclusiones: La realización de trasplante cardiaco está aumentando en España, con una mejora progresiva de los resultados en términos de supervivencia

Introduction and objectives: The present report updates the clinical characteristics and outcomes of heart transplant in Spain to 2018. Methods: Prospective registry of all the heart transplants performed between 1984 and 2018 in Spain. Specifically, temporal trends in clinical characteristics and outcomes are described for the period from 2009 to 2017. Results: In 2018, 321 transplants were performed (8494 since 1984; 2719 between 2009 and 2018). Compared with the previous year, the number of transplants performed in 2018 rose by 52% in recipients younger than 16 years and by 42% in those older than 60 years. In the last decade, significant temporal trends were observed in recipient characteristics (better pretransplant renal function, higher rates of diabetes, more urgent transplants, and greater use of pretrasplant circulatory support, particularly ventricular assist devices), donor characteristics (higher donor age, more female donors, and higher frequencies of cerebrovascular cause of death and predonation cardiac arrest and lower ischemia time). Survival significantly improved in the last decade, mainly due to lower mortality due to primary graft failure. Conclusions: The number of heart transplants is increasing in Spain, with a progressive improvement in survival

Spanish Heart Transplant Registry. 30th Official Report of the Spanish Society of Cardiology Working Group on Heart Failure (1984-2018).

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The present report updates the clinical characteristics and outcomes of heart transplant in Spain to 2018. METHODS: Prospective registry of all the heart transplants performed between 1984 and 2018 in Spain. Specifically, temporal trends in clinical characteristics and outcomes are described for the period from 2009 to 2017. RESULTS: In 2018, 321 transplants were performed (8494 since 1984; 2719 between 2009 and 2018). Compared with the previous year, the number of transplants performed in 2018 rose by 52% in recipients younger than 16 years and by 42% in those older than 60 years. In the last decade, significant temporal trends were observed in recipient characteristics (better pretransplant renal function, higher rates of diabetes, more urgent transplants, and greater use of pretrasplant circulatory support, particularly ventricular assist devices), donor characteristics (higher donor age, more female donors, and higher frequencies of cerebrovascular cause of death and predonation cardiac arrest and lower ischemia time). Survival significantly improved in the last decade, mainly due to lower mortality due to primary graft failure. CONCLUSIONS: The number of heart transplants is increasing in Spain, with a progressive improvement in survival.