Smoking and heart transplantation

Adherence to the Medical Regimen During the First Two Years After Lung Transplantation

“…Given the importance of immunosuppressants for preventing graft rejection, it is noteworthy that lung recipients' cumulative incidence of persistent nonadherence in this area was significantly lower than that in heart recipients. Tobacco use, which has been linked to major morbidities and mortality after all types of organ transplant (51)(52)(53), was also significantly lower among the lung recipients. However, lung recipients were less adherent to blood work requirements and blood pressure monitoring.…”

Rates and Risk Factors for Nonadherence to the Medical Regimen After Adult Solid Organ Transplantation

“…The rates may be lower in these latter groups because, although there is considerable variability across programs, more stringent psychosocial criteria may be applied in the transplant candidate selection process than are applied for kidney candidates (63,64) and/or because the consequences of graft loss are more severe: unlike kidney recipients who may return to dialysis, the options for prolonging life for most heart or liver recipients are considerably more limited. Yet the rates of just 14 to 15 nonadherent heart recipients or 7 liver recipients per 100 PPY may be clinically unacceptable as well: all of these rates are at least double the rate of tobacco use, which even at its relatively lower level of 3 to 4 patients per 100 PPY, is still a powerful contributor to posttransplant morbidity and mortality (15,18,65,66).…”

Psychosocial Assessments and Outcomes in Organ Transplantation

“…Of heart recipients, 5% to 26% have smoked at least once after transplant. 80,84,155,156 No study has determined what proportion of heart recipients become regular smokers after transplant, or the quantity and frequency of smoking (see Collins and Beresford 157 for a recent review).…”