After one year, mortality rates between the low- and high-risk groups differed more than 20 percent, with low-risk mortality at 5.2 percent and high-risk mortality at 26.7 percent. Despite their much higher death risk, the patients with the worst health derived the most health benefits from receiving a transplant.
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Factors that put patients at a higher risk of post-transplant mortality included older age, congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathy, ventilator support, mechanical support and/or kidney dysfunction.
Researchers concluded this new risk estimate suggests current transplant waiting list systems may not provide maximal benefits from the available transplant organs, which a reorganization of the waiting list based on risk might accomplish.
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