Living with heart disease already puts a strain on the body, but it can create specific hurdles for those waiting for a life-saving organ. New data involving over 112,000 kidney transplant recipients shows that having coronary artery disease (CAD) before surgery leads to much tougher outcomes after the procedure.
Patients with this pre-existing heart condition faced a significantly higher risk of death from any cause compared to those without it. The study also found these patients were nearly three times more likely to experience cardiovascular events after their transplant. Additionally, there was a measurable increase in graft failure, which is when the transplanted kidney stops working.
While the data shows a clear link between heart health and transplant success, the results for overall mortality had some variability across different studies. These findings highlight why doctors must focus on managing heart health closely for every transplant candidate to improve long-term survival.
