Wait Times for Pediatric Heart Transplants Longer During Pandemic

FRIDAY, Oct. 14, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with increased waiting list times among pediatric patients awaiting a heart transplant (HT) in the United States, according to a research letter published online Oct. 7 in JAMA Network Open.
John Iguidbashian, M.D., from the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora, and colleagues used data from the United Network for Organ Sharing to evaluate if the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with increased waiting list times among pediatric U.S. HT recipients. Wait times were compared for November 1, 2018, to February 28, 2020 (prepandemic group; 626 patients), and from March 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021 (pandemic group; 610 patients).
The researchers found that pandemic HT recipients had significantly increased mean waiting list times (157.4 days) versus nonpandemic HT controls (126 days; mean difference, 32 days). Waiting list survival remained similar between the groups. Despite longer wait times, post-HT recipient and graft survival were maintained among pandemic and nonpandemic HT recipients. There were significant mean decreases observed in postoperative length of stay among pandemic HT recipients (31 days) versus nonpandemic HT recipients (40 days; mean difference, −9 days).
"Survival and quality of life among children awaiting HT will depend on a collaborative commitment to standardized decision making and critical outcomes analyses," the authors write.
Related Posts
Social Isolation May Be Independent Risk Factor for Dementia
FRIDAY, June 10, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Social isolation seems to be an...
U.S. to Require Negative COVID Test For Chinese Visitor Entry
THURSDAY, Dec. 29, 2022 (HealthDay News) – All travelers flying from China to...
Prior Paid Medical Malpractice Claims Predict Future Claims Risk
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 15, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- A single prior paid medical...
Scientists Devise Way to Keep Donor Hearts Viable Longer
THURSDAY, Feb. 9, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Doctors have discovered a way to...