The unnoticed truth: Patients on the heart transplantation waiting list are becoming cachexic

Abstract

Heart transplantation is a major lifesaving surgery practiced globally on daily basis. The scarcity of donors has led to long waiting lists for the surgery. Both physiology and psychology of patients are affected severely during this period. The nutritional status is known to be correlated with postoperative outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the significance of the weight loss of patients by comparing their weights and ideal body weights. The data of 259 patients were used in this study and unpaired t-test was applied to the patient groups. The weight difference of the patient population was found as extremely significant (p<0.0001). The results demonstrated that the weight difference of female patient group was very significant (p=0.0012) and the male patient group was extremely significant (p<0.0001). The weight difference of young patients (18-34 years) was not significant (0.7309), middle aged patients (35-64 years) was extremely significant (p<0.0001) and elderly patients (65 years and above) was not significant (p=0.3540). Therefore, weight change is prominent in most of the patients who are on heart transplantation waiting list. Employment of a dietitian or nutrition specialist to transplant multidisciplinary teams is advised, to minimize patient cachexia.