MO981: DE Novo Heart Failure After Kidney Transplantation: Epidemiology, Risk Factors and Outcomes

Abstract

Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIMS Although the risk for congestive heart failure (CHF) decreases after kidney transplantation (KT) compared with dialysis, it remains a significant clinical concern associated with a higher risk of mortality, cardiovascular events and kidney graft loss. Available epidemiological data on CHF after KT are limited, outdated and have mostly focused on traditional risk factors. We aim to describe the risk, predictors and outcomes associated with de novo CHF after KT. METHOD We used electronic patient records from the West of Scotland renal database to retrospectively investigate de novo CHF in adult kidney transplant recipients between 1 January 2010 and 31 March 2020. Heart failure was ascertained using a combination of physician-reported diagnosis, echocardiographic criteria, radiological evidence of heart failure and elevation of NT-proBNP levels. Participants were followed up until 15 April 2021. Multivariable regression analysis was used to identify independent correlates of post-transplantation de novo CHF (odds ratio [OR] and 95% confidence interval [CI]) and examine de novo CHF as a predictor of death and graft loss after transplantation. RESULTS One hundred and four (8.9%) of 1172 transplant recipients had de novo CHF [mean age, 50 ± 13 years; 470 (40%) women]. The cumulative incidences of de novo CHF were 3.8% (95% CI: 2.9–5.1), 5.2% (95% CI: 4.1–6.7) and 7.1% (95% CI: 5.6–8.9) at 1, 3 and 5 years, respectively. Risk factors for de novo CHF included older recipient age (OR: 1.04; 95% CI: 1.02–1.06; P < 0.001), pre-transplantation diabetes mellitus (OR: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.1–3.2; P = 0.014), pre-transplantation vascular disease (OR: 2.2; 95% CI: 1.3–3.7; P = 0.003), pre-emptive kidney transplant (OR: 0.4; 95% CI: 0.2–0.9; P = 0.024) and the presence of a functional fistula at time of transplantation (OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1–4.9; P = 0.025). In separate analyses, de novo CHF predicted death (OR: 3.3; 95% CI: 1.5–7; P = 0.002) and death-censored graft failure (OR: 5.1; 95% CI: 2.8–9.3; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Congestive heart failure is a common complication after kidney transplantation associated with markedly increased risk for death and graft loss. Identification and optimization of pretransplantation risk factors for CHF and pre-emptive transplantation, suggests targets for improving outcomes.