Outcomes of Severely Obese Patients Supported by a Centrifugal-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device.

Background: Ventricular assist devices provide improved outcomes for patients with advanced heart failure, but their benefit in the severely obese is not well documented.

Methods: Patients enrolled in the HeartWare ADVANCE trial (n=382) were divided into 2 body mass index (BMI) groups. Patients with severe obesity (>35 kg/m) were compared with a control group with BMI ≤35 kg/m. The association of BMI with survival was tested using Kaplan-Meier analysis and major adverse events were compared.

Results: At implantation, 48 (13%) of patients were severely obese. There was no difference in survival through 2 years of support between severely obese patients and the control group. Severely obese patients were at higher risk of driveline infection (P = .01) and acute renal dysfunction (P = .002). Both groups experienced similar improvements in quality of life. Functional capacity improved in both severely obese and control patients, although severely obese patients had smaller improvements than controls in their 6-minute walk scores.

Conclusions: Despite an increased risk of adverse events, severe obesity was not associated with reduced survival or quality of life. A better understanding of the risks and benefits of left ventricular assist device therapy in obese patients will help in the shared decision-making of the patient selection process.