Waiting List Risk Factors in Pediatric Heart Transplant Center in the Developing Country

Abstract

Purpose: Most of data upon waiting list risk factors are based in studies done in developed countries. In this study we aimed to identify what are these risk factors in a health system enviroment of a developing country like Brazil. Methods and Materials: Time on the waiting list was defined as the time of initial listing to the time of removal due a transplant, death, recovery or removed. Survival time in the waiting list was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate relationships were evaluated with the Cox proportional hazards model. Results: Of 222 patients the median age was 3.9 yrs, median weight 13Kg; female 52%. Dilated cardiomyopathy 62%, congenital heart disease 25%, restrictive cardiomyopathy10%, chronic graft failure 3%. We had 45%listed as priority. 41% transplant, 40% died, 14% were removed, 5% are still waiting. Survival were 73% in 30 days, 60% in 90, 51% in 6m. Diagnosis, age, weight, urea, level and priorit status were considered predictors in the univariate analysis. Diagnosis of CHD and, priority status, were found as independent risk factors. Conclusions: Less has been known about the mortality risk factors in the waiting list in our enviroment. Actually these data are very similar to those ones retrieved in the early 1990 when the young and very ill children were destined to died. These results support the urgency of adoption of new technologies and new strategies addressed to child in the waiting list.