Geographic Variation in the Treatment of U.S. Adult Heart Transplant Candidates.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The current U.S. priority ranking for heart candidates is based on treatment intensity, not objective markers of severity of illness. This system may encourage centers to overtreat candidates.

Objectives

This study sought to describe national variation in the intensity of treatment of adult heart transplantation candidates and identify center-level predictors of potential overtreatment.

Methods

The registrations of all U.S. adult heart transplantation candidates from 2010 to 2015 were collected from the SRTR (Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients). "Potential overtreatment" was defined as treatment of a candidate who did not meet American Heart Association cardiogenic shock criteria with either high-dose inotropes or an intra-aortic balloon pump. Mul

SUBMITTER: Parker WF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6019274 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature