Barry Schlansky1, Willscott E Naugler, Susan L Orloff, C Kristian Enestvedt. 1. 1 Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR.2 Division of Abdominal Organ Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Over 85% of US centers adhere to practice guidelines that consider morbid obesity to be a contraindication to liver transplantation (LT). The relationship of morbid obesity with LT outcomes and survival benefit in the current era is unknown. METHODS: We investigated the association of body mass index with waitlist and post-LT outcomes, and survival benefit, using the United Network for Organ Sharing registry. We categorized body mass index as follows: 18.5 to 29.9 kg/m, normal/overweight; 30 to 34.9 kg/m, obese; 35 to 39.9 kg/m, severely obese; and ≥40 kg/m, morbidly obese, and evaluated waitlist outcomes using competing risk regression and post-LT outcomes and survival benefit using Cox regression. RESULTS: 3.9% of 80 221 waitlisted and 3.5% of 38 177 transplanted patients were morbidly obese. Waitlist mortality was higher for morbidly obese than normal/overweight patients (subdistribution hazard ratio, 1.16; 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.08-1.26), but post-LT mortality and graft failure were comparable (hazard ratio [HR], 1.01; 95% CI, 0.86-1.19; and HR, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.95-1.40). Morbidly obese patients also benefited more from LT (88% mortality reduction vs 80% for normal/overweight). Morbid obesity predicted higher post-LT mortality before 2007 (HR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.04-1.34), but not afterward (HR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.81-1.18). CONCLUSIONS: Morbid obesity is associated with higher mortality on the LT waitlist, but no longer predicts inferior outcomes after LT. Morbidly obese patients should be considered potential candidates for LT.
BACKGROUND: Over 85% of US centers adhere to practice guidelines that consider morbid obesity to be a contraindication to liver transplantation (LT). The relationship of morbid obesity with LT outcomes and survival benefit in the current era is unknown. METHODS: We investigated the association of body mass index with waitlist and post-LT outcomes, and survival benefit, using the United Network for Organ Sharing registry. We categorized body mass index as follows: 18.5 to 29.9 kg/m, normal/overweight; 30 to 34.9 kg/m, obese; 35 to 39.9 kg/m, severely obese; and ≥40 kg/m, morbidly obese, and evaluated waitlist outcomes using competing risk regression and post-LT outcomes and survival benefit using Cox regression. RESULTS: 3.9% of 80 221 waitlisted and 3.5% of 38 177 transplanted patients were morbidly obese. Waitlist mortality was higher for morbidly obese than normal/overweight patients (subdistribution hazard ratio, 1.16; 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.08-1.26), but post-LT mortality and graft failure were comparable (hazard ratio [HR], 1.01; 95% CI, 0.86-1.19; and HR, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.95-1.40). Morbidly obesepatients also benefited more from LT (88% mortality reduction vs 80% for normal/overweight). Morbid obesity predicted higher post-LT mortality before 2007 (HR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.04-1.34), but not afterward (HR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.81-1.18). CONCLUSIONS: Morbid obesity is associated with higher mortality on the LT waitlist, but no longer predicts inferior outcomes after LT. Morbidly obesepatients should be considered potential candidates for LT.
Authors: Erin K Spengler; Jacqueline G O'Leary; Helen S Te; Shari Rogal; Anjana A Pillai; Abdullah Al-Osaimi; Archita Desai; James N Fleming; Daniel Ganger; Anil Seetharam; Georgios Tsoulfas; Martin Montenovo; Jennifer C Lai Journal: Transplantation Date: 2017-10 Impact factor: 4.939