Improved survival in heart transplant recipients in the United States: racial differences in era effect.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Posttransplant survival in heart transplant recipients has progressively improved during the past 2 decades. It is unknown, however, whether the major racial groups in the United States have benefited equally.

Methods and results

We analyzed all primary heart transplant recipients aged ≥18 years in the United States from 1987 to 2008. We compared posttransplant survival in white, black, and Hispanic recipients in 5 successive eras (1987 to 1992, 1993 to 1996, 1997 to 2000, 2001 to 2004, 2005 to 2008). Early survival was defined as freedom from death or retransplantation during the first 6 months posttransplant. Longer-term, conditional survival was assessed in patients who survived the first 6 months. There were 29 986 (81.6%) white, 4745 (12.9%) black, and 2017 (

SUBMITTER: Singh TP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4256951 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature