Life Expectancy After Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma With Cirrhosis

Life Expectancy after Liver Transplantation for NASH

Introduction: Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis is an increasing reason for liver transplantation in the western world. Knowledge of recipient life expectancy may assist in prudent allocation of a relatively scarce supply of donor livers. Research Questions: We calculated life expectancies for Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) patients both at time of transplant and one year later, stratified by key risk factors, and examined whether survival has improved in recent years. Design: Data on 6635 NASH patients who underwent liver transplantation in the MELD era (2002-2018) from the United States OPTN database were analyzed using the Cox proportional hazards regression model and life table methods. Results: Factors related to survival were age, presence of diabetes or hepatic encephalopathy (HE), and whether the patient required dialysis in the week prior to transplant. Other important factors were whether the patient was working, hospitalization prior to transplant, ventilator support, and length of hospital stay (LOS). Survival improved over the study period at roughly 4.5% per calendar year during the first year posttransplant, though no improvement was observed in those who had survived one year. Conclusion: Life expectancy in NASH transplant patients was much reduced from normal, and varied according to age, medical factors, status at transplant, and post transplant course. Over the 17-year study period, patient survival improved markedly during the first year posttransplant, though not thereafter. The results given here may prove helpful in medical decision-making regarding treatment for both liver disease and other medical conditions, as they provide both clinicians and their patients with evidence-based information on prognosis.

Life Expectancy After Liver Transplantation for Alcoholic Cirrhosis

BACKGROUND

Alcohol-associated liver disease is the leading cause of liver transplantation in the western world. For these patients we calculated life expectancies both at time of transplant and several years later, stratified by key risk factors, and determined if survival has improved in recent years.

METHODS

Data on 14 962 patients with alcohol-associated liver disease who underwent liver transplantation in the MELD era (2002-2018) from the United States Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network database were analyzed using the Cox proportional hazards regression model and life table methods.

RESULTS

Demographic and past medical history factors related to survival were patient age, presence of diabetes or severe hepatic encephalopathy, and length of hospital stay. Survival improved over the study period, at roughly 3% per calendar year during the first 5 years posttransplant and 1% per year thereafter.

CONCLUSIONS

Life expectancy in transplanted patients with alcohol-associated liver disease was much reduced from normal, and varied according to age, medical risk factors, and functional status. Survival improved modestly over the study period. Information on patient longevity can be helpful in making treatment decisions.