Trends in Heart Transplantation and Outcome Analysis: Nationwide Study Using the National Inpatient Sample and Readmission Database

Background: Heart transplantation (Htx) remains the definitive therapy for patients with end-stage heart failure. Despite advancements in mechanical circulatory support (MCS), immunosuppressive strategies, and organ allocation policies, donor availability remains a major limitation. This study analy...

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Main Authors: Vivek Joseph Varughese, Aditya Sunil Bhaskaran, Hadrian Hoang-Vu Tran, Nikita Wadhwani, Vignesh Krishnan Nagesh, Izage Kianifar Aguilar, Damien Islek, Simcha Weissman, Adam Atoot
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Medical Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3271/13/2/46
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author Vivek Joseph Varughese
Aditya Sunil Bhaskaran
Hadrian Hoang-Vu Tran
Nikita Wadhwani
Vignesh Krishnan Nagesh
Izage Kianifar Aguilar
Damien Islek
Simcha Weissman
Adam Atoot
author_facet Vivek Joseph Varughese
Aditya Sunil Bhaskaran
Hadrian Hoang-Vu Tran
Nikita Wadhwani
Vignesh Krishnan Nagesh
Izage Kianifar Aguilar
Damien Islek
Simcha Weissman
Adam Atoot
author_sort Vivek Joseph Varughese
collection DOAJ
description Background: Heart transplantation (Htx) remains the definitive therapy for patients with end-stage heart failure. Despite advancements in mechanical circulatory support (MCS), immunosuppressive strategies, and organ allocation policies, donor availability remains a major limitation. This study analyzes the trends in Htx in the United States between 2016 and 2022, focusing on demographic shifts, mortality trends, and 30-day readmission patterns. Methods: We utilized the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 2016 to 2022 and the National Readmissions Database (NRD) for 2021 to identify Htx admissions using ICD-10 PCS code O2YA0Z0. Patient characteristics, mortality rates, and readmission patterns were analyzed using ANOVA and multivariate logistic regression, with statistical significance defined as <i>p</i> < 0.05. Results: The total number of Htx procedures increased from 641 in 2016 to 773 in 2022. The mean age of transplant recipients remained between 45 and 50 years, with no significant differences across years. Racial and socioeconomic disparities persisted, with approximately 60% of transplants occurring in White patients and 21–26% of recipients belonging to the lowest income quartile. All-cause in-hospital mortality remained stable at 4–7%. The 30-day readmission rate in 2021 was 57.7%, with heart failure, transplant rejection, and infections being the leading causes. Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) was the only comorbidity significantly associated with higher 30-day readmission risk (OR: 1.815, 95% CI: 1.477–2.230). Conclusions: Htx utilization has increased over time, driven by improvements in donor allocation and perioperative management. However, racial and socioeconomic disparities remain, and readmission rates continue to be high. Future efforts should focus on optimizing post-transplant care and addressing disparities to improve long-term outcomes.
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spelling doaj-art-a528904d102046e6a96cdca3ad5fed4d2025-08-20T03:27:28ZengMDPI AGMedical Sciences2076-32712025-04-011324610.3390/medsci13020046Trends in Heart Transplantation and Outcome Analysis: Nationwide Study Using the National Inpatient Sample and Readmission DatabaseVivek Joseph Varughese0Aditya Sunil Bhaskaran1Hadrian Hoang-Vu Tran2Nikita Wadhwani3Vignesh Krishnan Nagesh4Izage Kianifar Aguilar5Damien Islek6Simcha Weissman7Adam Atoot8Department of Internal Medicine, University of South Carolina, Prisma Health, 2 Med Park, Richland, WA 29203, USADepartment of Internal Medicine, Lincoln Medical Center, New York, NY 10451, USADepartment of Internal Medicine, Hackensack Palisades Medical Center, North Bergen, NJ 07047, USADepartment of Internal Medicine, Hackensack Palisades Medical Center, North Bergen, NJ 07047, USADepartment of Internal Medicine, Hackensack Palisades Medical Center, North Bergen, NJ 07047, USADepartment of Internal Medicine, Hackensack Palisades Medical Center, North Bergen, NJ 07047, USADepartment of Internal Medicine, Hackensack Palisades Medical Center, North Bergen, NJ 07047, USADepartment of Internal Medicine, Hackensack Palisades Medical Center, North Bergen, NJ 07047, USADepartment of Internal Medicine, Hackensack Palisades Medical Center, North Bergen, NJ 07047, USABackground: Heart transplantation (Htx) remains the definitive therapy for patients with end-stage heart failure. Despite advancements in mechanical circulatory support (MCS), immunosuppressive strategies, and organ allocation policies, donor availability remains a major limitation. This study analyzes the trends in Htx in the United States between 2016 and 2022, focusing on demographic shifts, mortality trends, and 30-day readmission patterns. Methods: We utilized the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 2016 to 2022 and the National Readmissions Database (NRD) for 2021 to identify Htx admissions using ICD-10 PCS code O2YA0Z0. Patient characteristics, mortality rates, and readmission patterns were analyzed using ANOVA and multivariate logistic regression, with statistical significance defined as <i>p</i> < 0.05. Results: The total number of Htx procedures increased from 641 in 2016 to 773 in 2022. The mean age of transplant recipients remained between 45 and 50 years, with no significant differences across years. Racial and socioeconomic disparities persisted, with approximately 60% of transplants occurring in White patients and 21–26% of recipients belonging to the lowest income quartile. All-cause in-hospital mortality remained stable at 4–7%. The 30-day readmission rate in 2021 was 57.7%, with heart failure, transplant rejection, and infections being the leading causes. Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) was the only comorbidity significantly associated with higher 30-day readmission risk (OR: 1.815, 95% CI: 1.477–2.230). Conclusions: Htx utilization has increased over time, driven by improvements in donor allocation and perioperative management. However, racial and socioeconomic disparities remain, and readmission rates continue to be high. Future efforts should focus on optimizing post-transplant care and addressing disparities to improve long-term outcomes.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3271/13/2/46heart transplantationheart failuredonor availabilitymechanical circulatory supportleft ventricular assist deviceECMO
spellingShingle Vivek Joseph Varughese
Aditya Sunil Bhaskaran
Hadrian Hoang-Vu Tran
Nikita Wadhwani
Vignesh Krishnan Nagesh
Izage Kianifar Aguilar
Damien Islek
Simcha Weissman
Adam Atoot
Trends in Heart Transplantation and Outcome Analysis: Nationwide Study Using the National Inpatient Sample and Readmission Database
Medical Sciences
heart transplantation
heart failure
donor availability
mechanical circulatory support
left ventricular assist device
ECMO
title Trends in Heart Transplantation and Outcome Analysis: Nationwide Study Using the National Inpatient Sample and Readmission Database
title_full Trends in Heart Transplantation and Outcome Analysis: Nationwide Study Using the National Inpatient Sample and Readmission Database
title_fullStr Trends in Heart Transplantation and Outcome Analysis: Nationwide Study Using the National Inpatient Sample and Readmission Database
title_full_unstemmed Trends in Heart Transplantation and Outcome Analysis: Nationwide Study Using the National Inpatient Sample and Readmission Database
title_short Trends in Heart Transplantation and Outcome Analysis: Nationwide Study Using the National Inpatient Sample and Readmission Database
title_sort trends in heart transplantation and outcome analysis nationwide study using the national inpatient sample and readmission database
topic heart transplantation
heart failure
donor availability
mechanical circulatory support
left ventricular assist device
ECMO
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3271/13/2/46
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