| Popis: |
This retrospective study included children aged ≤18 years who had durable ventricular assist devices (VADs) as a bridge to transplantation from the United Network Organ Sharing (UNOS) database between 2011 and 2020. We evaluated 90-day waitlist mortality and 1-year posttransplant mortality after VAD implantation in children stratified by race/ethnicity: Black, White, and Others. The VAD was used in a higher proportion of Black children listed for heart transplantation (HT) (26%) versus Other (25%) versus White (22%); p0.01. Black children had Medicaid health insurance coverage (67%) predominantly at the time of listing for HT. There was no significant overall difference in waitlist survival among the three groups supported with VAD at the time of listing (log-rank p = 0.4). On the other hand, the 90-day waitlist mortality after the VAD implantation at listing and while listed was the lowest among Black (6%) compared with White (13%) and Other (14%) (p0.01). The multivariate regression analysis showed that Other race (hazard ratio [HR], 2.29; p0.01), Black race (HR, 2.13; p0.01), use of mechanical ventilation (HR, 1.72; p = 0.01), and Medicaid insurance (HR, 1.54; p = 0.04) were independently associated with increased 1-year posttransplant mortality. In conclusion, Black children had more access to durable VAD support than White children. The 90-day waitlist mortality was significantly lower in Black children compared with White and Other after VAD implantation. However, Black and Other racial/ethnic children with VAD at transplant had higher 1-year posttransplant mortality than White children. Future studies to elucidate the reasons for these disparities are needed. |
