Variation of heart transplant rates in the United States during holidays. (11th July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Grodin, Justin L.; Ayers, Colby R.; Thibodeau, Jennifer T.; Mishkin, Joseph D.; Mammen, Pradeep P. A.; Markham, David W.; Drazner, Mark H.; Patel, Parag C.
• Is Part Of: Clinical transplantation. Volume 28:Number 8(2014)
• Page Start: 877
• Page End: 882
• Publication Date: 2014-07-11
• Subjects: Transplantation of organs, tissues, etc -- Periodicals; 617.95
• DOI: 10.1111/ctr.12396
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0902-0063

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="ctr12396-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="ctr12396-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Some cardiac transplant programs may upgrade listed patients to United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) 1A‐status during the holidays. Whether more transplants actually occur during holidays is unknown.</p> </sec> <sec id="ctr12396-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>We assessed rates of single‐organ heart transplantation from 2001 to 2010 for recipients age ≥18 yr using the UNOS database. Patients were stratified by transplantation during holiday (±3 d, n = 2375) and non‐holiday periods (n = 16 112). Holidays included Easter/Spring break, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas/New Years (winter holidays). Secondary analysis assessing transplant rates across seasons was also completed.</p> </sec> <sec id="ctr12396-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Donor and recipient characteristics were similar between groups. Compared with non‐holidays, July 4th had higher transplant rates (5.69 vs. 5.09 transplants/d, p = 0.03) while the winter holiday had lower transplant rates (4.50 vs. 5.09 transplants/d, p < 0.01). There was a trend toward lower transplant rates for all holidays compared with non‐holidays (p = 0.06). Transplant rates were significantly different across seasons with greater rates in spring and summer (p < 0.01).</p> </sec> <sec id="ctr12396-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Heart transplant rates were higher during the July 4th and lower during the winter holidays. Although there was a higher likelihood of transplantation during the spring and summer seasons, upgrading patients to 1A status during most holidays may not improve their chances for transplantation.</p> </sec> </abstract>