HEART-TRANSPLANTATION IN PATIENTS 65 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER - A COMPARATIVE-ANALYSIS OF 40 PATIENTS

Background. Advanced age has traditionally been considered a relative contraindication to heart transplantation because of the potential for increased morbidity and decreased long-term survival. Methods. We ana lyzed the results in 40 patients 65 years of age and older who underwe nt heart transplantation and compared them with those in 138 patients younger than 65 years. Results. The older age group had a higher incid ence of diabetes mellitus (p = 0.01), donor-recipient weight mismatch (<0.80) (p = 0.004), lower donor-recipient weight ratio (p = 0.02), an d longer allograft ischemic time (p = 0.008), among other differences. However, the 30-day operative mortality was similar in both groups (2 .5% in older versus 2.2% in younger patients). Actuarial survival at 1 2, 24, and 36 months was not statistically different between the older and younger patients (86% +/- 6% versus 93% +/- 2%, 78% +/- 8% versus 89% +/- 3%, and 72% +/- 9% versus 81% +/- 4%, respectively; p = 0.26) . The posttransplantation intensive care unit stay, total hospital sta y, and associated hospital costs were also similar. The incidence of r ejection during the first posttransplantation year was similar in both groups. Conclusions. Heart transplantation in selected patients 65 ye ars of age and older can be performed successfully, with a morbidity a nd mortality comparable with those seen in younger patients. Advanced age should not be an exclusion criterion for heart transplantation, bu t selective criteria should be applied that identify risks and benefit s individually.