Pediatric Post-Heart Transplantation Survival Similar During COVID-19 and Pre-Pandemic
The rates of early pediatric postheart transplantation survival during the COVID-19 pandemic are similar to rates from 2014 to 2019, according to study findings presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2023, held in Philadelphia, PA, from November 11 to 13.
Researchers evaluated the overall trends of postheart transplantation survival during the COVID-19 pandemic and aimed to determine whether there was an increased risk for subsequent graft loss or rejection after postheart transplantation COVID-19.
The researchers collected data from the Pediatric Heart Transplant Society (PHTS) database. Data were from pediatric recipients of an initial heart transplantation between January 2003 and June 2022.
Patients’ 2-year heart transplantation survival was compared among those who had heart transplantation in 2014 to 2016, 2017 to 2019, and 2020 to 2022. Additionally, a 1:2 (COVID vs non-COVID) propensity score-matched analysis with multiple preheart transplantation and postheart transplantation factors (including exact matches for heart transplantation year and time postheart transplantation) and Kaplan Meir analysis were conducted. Patients who had COVID-19 infection within 3 months after heart transplantation were excluded.
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Longer-term follow-up is necessary to look at other potential post-HT [heart transplantation] COVID outcomes, such as coronary allograft vasculopathy
The 2-year postheart transplantation survival rates were similar among patients who had heart transplantation during the 3 timespans (Plog-rank =.9315). Of 6634 patients (n=888 with postheart transplantation COVID), 861 participants with postheart transplantation COVID-19 infection and 1716 without postheart transplantation COVID-19 infection were included in the propensity-score matching. No difference was observed regarding the risk for subsequent graft loss (Plog-rank =.3266) or rejection (Plog-rank =.1820) in patients with vs without postheart transplantation COVID-19 infection.
“Longer-term follow-up is necessary to look at other potential post-HT [heart transplantation] COVID outcomes, such as coronary allograft vasculopathy,” wrote the investigators.
Disclosure: Some of the study authors declared affiliations with biotech, pharmaceutical, and/or device companies. Please see the original reference for a full list of authors’ disclosures.
This article originally appeared on Cardiology Advisor
References:
Spinner J, Conway J, Bocchini C, et al. Graft loss and rejection following COVID in pediatric heart transplantation — a Pediatric Heart Transplant Society (PHTS) propensity matched analysis. Abstract presented at: the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2023; November 11-13, 2023; Philadelphia. Abstract 126.
