Heart transplant patients from socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods face a higher risk of complications and earlier death, even when receiving care at top-tier hospitals, according to a new UCLA study. The research, published in the Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation, reveals that neighborhood deprivation significantly impacts post-transplant survival rates.
Examining data from over 38,000 heart transplant recipients, researchers found that patients from the most deprived areas had a 14% higher risk of dying within three years and a 13% higher chance within five years post-transplant. These patients also faced an increased risk of organ failure.
Lead author Sara Sakowitz, a medical student at UCLA, emphasized that access to high-quality transplant centers alone does not mitigate these disparities. “Factors outside the immediate post-transplantation period, stemming from access to longitudinal care or crucial immunosuppressive medications, appear to be implicated,” Sakowitz explained.
The study utilized the Area Deprivation Index to rank neighborhoods based on socioeconomic factors. Even after adjusting for race, insurance, and comorbidities, the disparity persisted, suggesting that community-level disadvantage independently shapes transplant outcomes.
Researchers are now exploring additional factors contributing to this gap, including access to post-transplant medication and environmental influences on health. Sakowitz stressed the importance of addressing systemic root causes, stating, “To tackle disparities in transplantation, we must break down these large-scale problems into inflection points where we can make meaningful change.”
This research underscores the need for comprehensive strategies that extend beyond the initial transplant procedure, focusing on long-term care and support for patients from disadvantaged communities to improve their chances of survival and quality of life post-transplant.
See “Heart transplant patients from deprived areas face higher risk for postoperative complications, earlier death” (September 30, 2024)
