Association of center-level temporary mechanical circulatory support use and waitlist outcomes after the 2018 adult heart allocation policy.

BACKGROUND

The present study characterizes the association of center-level temporary mechanical circulatory support use with waitlist outcomes after the 2018 adult heart allocation policy change.

METHODS

The United Network for Organ Sharing database was queried for all single-organ, adult heart transplant candidates from November 2015 to October 2021. The study population was divided into 2 cohorts, prepolicy and postpolicy, centered around the rule change on October 18, 2018. The primary study outcome was center-level rate of poor waitlist outcome, defined as death or deterioration on the waitlist. Competing-risks regression was used to generate risk-adjusted rates of poor waitlist outcome at each center, while Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) was used to assess the significance of center-level temporary mechanical circulatory support use (defined as the proportion listed with temporary mechanical circulatory support) and poor waitlist outcome.

RESULTS

Of 22,077 transplant candidates included in analysis, 50.5% were listed during postpolicy. Compared to prepolicy, postpolicy candidates were more often listed with temporary mechanical circulatory support and less commonly listed with a durable left-ventricular assist device. The proportion of hospitals not using any temporary mechanical circulatory support decreased significantly from prepolicy to postpolicy (15% to 1%, P < .001). During prepolicy, center-level temporary mechanical circulatory support use showed no correlation with adjusted poor waitlist outcome. However, center-level temporary mechanical circulatory support use showed a negative correlation with poor waitlist outcome during postpolicy (r = -0.42, P < .001).

CONCLUSION

The 2018 adult heart allocation policy appears to benefit patients listed at high temporary mechanical circulatory support using centers, with significant interhospital variation in temporary mechanical circulatory support use in the new era. Given the growing role of temporary mechanical circulatory support on the heart transplant waitlist, greater standardization of its application is warranted.