Deficits in Pre- and Post-transplant Functional, Motor, and Cognitive Deficits Associated With Graft Failure and Mortality in Pediatric Heart Transplant Recipients

Background: Pretransplant functional, motor, cognitive, and academic deficits are common in pediatric patients requiring heart transplantation (HT); some persist post-HT. We assessed the association between these quality of life (QoL) deficits and post-HT outcomes.

Methods: Using SRTR data 2008-2023, we evaluated the functional, motor, cognitive, and academic status of pediatric HT recipients from listing to 15 years post-HT. We compared all-cause graft survival among patients with vs. without pre-HT deficits using Cox regressions. Among patients with a functioning graft at 1 year, we assessed the association between deficits at that time and subsequent graft failure.

Results: In 6153 HT recipients, 85.3% had pre-HT functional status ≤ 80%, 53.1% of patients could not tolerate a full academic load; this decreased to 15.2% and 15.0% postoperatively, and was sustained. Definite or probable cognitive deficits were seen in 17.4% of patients and motor delays in 18.6%; both remained stable post-HT at 18.0% and 16.4%, respectively. Graft survival was worse in those with either pre- or post-HT deficits in functional status. Worse pre-HT functional status was associated with risk of graft failure (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] per 10% decrease = _1.03 1.06 _1.08, p < 0.001); worse 1-year post-HT functional status was much more strongly associated with risk of graft failure (aHR = _1.13 1.18 _1.23, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Pediatric HT recipients with decreased functional status are at higher risk for graft failure and mortality. These patients may benefit from early intervention aimed at improving functional status.