Heart transplantation in patients with diabetes mellitus in the current era.

BACKGROUND

In this study, we used a single-institution database to examine the risks of heart transplantation in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM).

METHODS

Recipients 18 years and older who underwent cardiac transplantation from July 1994 to December 2000 were reviewed; 101 consecutive patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus were compared with 244 patients who did not have DM and who received standard donor hearts. Survival, renal function (serum creatinine concentration), development of transplant coronary artery disease (TCAD), severe rejection, and infection (requiring hospitalization) were analyzed.

RESULTS

Patients with DM were older (mean age, 57.1 years vs 51.4 years), had greater body mass index (mean, 26.7 vs 24.1 kg/m(2), p < 0.02), and more commonly had ischemic cardiomyopathy (58% vs 43%, p = 0.02). We found a trend toward decreased survival for those with DM at 1 year (85.1% vs 90.9%; p = 0.12). Five-year survival was 81.6% for both groups. Mean follow-up time was 4.1 years. Infection rate within 3 months was greater among those with DM (14% vs 3%, odds ration = 5.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.59-16.23). Freedom from infection at 4 years was 71.0% for patients with DM and 85.0% for those without DM (p = 0.02). Freedom from rejection at 4 years was similar (70.6% vs 73.6%, p = 0.69). At 4 years, transplant coronary artery disease (TCAD)-free survival was 69.5% for those with DM and 81.6% for those without (p = 0.23). Mean serum creatinine concentration at 4 years after transplant was 1.5 mg/dl in patients with DM (vs 1.4, p = 0.28). Multivariate analysis showed increased baseline creatinine level as a significant risk factor for survival and showed pre-transplant ischemic cardiomyopathy as a risk factor for TCAD in both groups. Body mass index >30 was a significant risk factor for survival among patients with DM.

CONCLUSION

We found an increased risk of serious infections in patients with DM, particularly in the early post-operative period. Careful consideration of obesity and renal function during evaluation of candidacy is indicated.