Higher-risk SIPAT score predicts increased risk of long-term mortality in orthotopic heart transplant recipients.

Background: Orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) improves survival in eligible patients. Organ scarcity necessitates extensive clinical and psychosocial evaluations before listing. The Stanford Integrated Psychosocial Assessment for Transplant (SIPAT) predicts risk for poor psychosocial outcomes and morbidity in the first year post-transplant, yet it is unknown whether it predicts long-term outcomes.

Outcomes of biventricular mechanical support patients discharged to home to await heart transplantation.

Background: The use of left ventricular assist devices has grown rapidly in recent years for patients with end-stage heart failure. A significant proportion of patients require both left- and right-sided support with biventricular assist devices (BiVADs) as a bridge to transplantation. Traditionally, these patients have waited in the hospital until they receive a transplant.

Temporal trends in treatment and outcomes for advanced heart failure with reduced ejection fraction from 1993-2010: findings from a university referral center.

Background: Randomized trials have demonstrated the efficacy of several new therapies for heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction over the preceding 2 decades. This study investigates whether these therapeutic advances have translated into improvement in outcomes for patients with advanced HF referred to a heart transplant center.

Methods And Results: Patients with HF (n=2507) referred to a single university center were analyzed in three 6-year eras during which medical and device therapies were evolving: 1993 to 1998 (era 1), 1999 to 2004 (era 2), and 2005 to 2010 (era 3).

Correlates of health-related quality of life in patients with heart failure.

Background: The purpose of this study was to explore health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with advanced heart failure undergoing heart transplantation evaluation. The overall aim of the study was to determine whether patients' demographic characteristics, functional status, neuroticism, social network, social support, spirituality, and time since symptom onset are related to the physical and mental components of a patient's HRQOL.

Methods: A descriptive, correlational design was used.