Inampudi, Chakradhari

AbstractBackgroundConcerns about the impact of the new donor heart allocation system on posttransplant outcomes have emerged after its implementation. We sought to evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) recipients transplanted before and after the implantation of the new policy on October 18, 2018.MethodsData on bridge to transplantation of adult patients with LVAD between January 2015 and October 2021, with durable LVAD as a (BTT), was queried from the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) registry. The main outcomes were 30‐day all‐cause mortality, 30‐day fatal graft failure, 1‐year all‐cause mortality, treated acute rejection at 1 year and renal replacement therapy (RRT) for acute renal failure.ResultsIn our study, 7096 patients met the inclusion criteria including 2435 in the new allocation system. The transplanted patients in the new allocation system era had older donor age, longer ischemic time, and higher proportion of newer generation LVADs. Adjusted 30‐day all‐cause mortality was significantly lower for LVAD recipients in the new allocation system era (2.5% vs. 3.6%; sub‐hazard ratio [SHR] 0.36, 95% Confidence intervals [CI] 0.27–0.48, p < 0.001) without differences in the risk of fatal graft failure and 1‐year mortality (7.8% vs. 9.6%). Significantly lower adjusted 30‐day mortality with HVAD and HM3 devices than HM2 in the new allocation system era was found, without differences in 1‐year mortality. Acute allograft rejection requiring treatment was significantly lower (Odds Ratio 0.78, 95% CI 0.65–0.94, p = 0.01), whereas a trend toward higher risk of renal failure requiring RRT was identified.ConclusionsDespite changing donor characteristics and longer ischemic times, posttransplant outcomes in LVAD recipients have not worsened with the implementation of the new allocation system and this finding is related to the use of newer generation continuous flow LVADs.

Hospitalization rates and survival of patients with Heart Failure (HF) have improved. However, 5-year mortality rates remain high and the prevalence of the disease is rising likely due to aging of the population and advances in diagnosis and treatment of other acute and chronic cardiovascular diseases. Over the past three decades the therapeutic armamentarium of heart failure has improved substantially with development of medications targeting neuro-hormonal activation and devices preventing sudden cardiac death and improving cardiac synchrony. Recently, inhibition of angiotensin receptors and neprilysin as well as sinoatrial pacemaker modulating f-current, have been found safe and effective strategies that improve HF hospitalization rates and/or mortality. Antidiabetic agents inhibiting sodium-glucose co-transporters 2, result in natriuresis and osmotic diuresis and may further improve HF related outcomes. Furthermore, emerging therapies such as cardiac myosin activators, soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators and non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists are undergoing investigation in phase II and III studies of HF patients. Finally, rapid evolution of in the management of advanced HF has occurred with the application of second and third generation continuous flow left ventricular assist devices in clinical practice. Ongoing clinical studies will validate the safety and efficacy of emerging therapeutic strategies in HF population underrepresented in previous clinical trials.

Background Sex‐specific effectiveness of rivaroxaban ( RIVA ), dabigatran ( DABI ), and warfarin in reducing myocardial infarction ( MI ), heart failure ( HF ), and all‐cause mortality among patients with atrial fibrillation are not known. We assessed sex‐specific associations of RIVA , DABI , or warfarin use with the risk of MI , HF , and all‐cause mortality among patients with atrial fibrillation. Methods and Results Medicare beneficiaries (men: 65 734 [44.8%], women: 81 135 [55.2%]) with atrial fibrillation who initiated oral anticoagulants formed the study cohort. Inpatient admissions for MI , HF , and all‐cause mortality were compared between the 3 drugs separately for men and women using 3‐way propensity‐matched samples. In men, RIVA use was associated with a reduced risk of MI admissions compared with warfarin use (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval ( CI ): 0.59 [0.38–0.91]), with a trend towards reduced risk compared with DABI use (0.67 [0.44–1.01]). In women, there were no significant differences in the risk of MI admissions across all 3 anticoagulants. In both sexes, RIVA use and DABI use were associated with reduced risk of HF admissions (men: RIVA ; 0.75 [0.63–0.89], DABI ; 0.81 [0.69–0.96]) (women: RIVA ; 0.64 [0.56–0.74], DABI ; 0.73 [0.63–0.83]) and all‐cause mortality (men: RIVA ; 0.66 [0.53–0.81], DABI ; 0.75 [0.61–0.93]) (women: RIVA ; 0.76 [0.63–0.91], DABI ; 0.77 [0.64–0.93]) compared with warfarin use. Conclusions RIVA use and DABI use when compared with warfarin use was associated with a reduced risk of HF admissions and all‐cause mortality in both sexes. However, reduced risk of MI admissions noted with RIVA use appears to be limited to men.