Association of early post-transplant hyperglycaemia and diabetes mellitus on outcomes following heart transplantation.

AIMS: Early post-transplant hyperglycaemia (EPTH) and post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) are common following solid organ transplantation and may be associated with adverse outcomes. We studied the prevalence of EPTH and cumulative 5-year prevalence of PTDM in a modern cohort of heart transplant recipients who were free from diabetes at baseline as well as the association of EPTH, PTDM and pre-transplant T2DM with adverse transplant-related outcomes.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study of heart transplant recipients followed for 5 years at a single centre in Sydney, Australia.

RESULTS

A total of 141 patients were included, of whom 25 had pre-existing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and 116 were free from diabetes at baseline. In patients without pre-existing T2DM, 88 of 116 (76%) experienced EPTH, which was associated with higher rates of acute rejection and hospitalizations, and lower 5-year survival. PTDM developed in 45 of 116 (39%) patients, all of whom had experienced EPTH. Both PTDM and pre-existing T2DM were associated with increased rates of graft rejection and hospitalization, and greater than three-fold increased likelihood of death compared to patients that remained free from diabetes.

CONCLUSION

EPTH and PTDM are highly prevalent following cardiac transplantation. EPTH develops within days of transplant and is strongly associated with progression to PTDM. Pre-existing T2DM, PTDM and EPTH are associated with greater hospitalization, increased episodes of rejection and worse 5-year survival compared to patients who remained free from diabetes during follow-up.