Heart Transplantation in Asia

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Transplantation Medicine
• Public Health in Asia

Background:

• Heart transplantation (HTx) offers improved survival and quality of life for patients with terminal heart failure (HF).
• HTx has seen continuous growth in Asia since its inception, with increasing adoption and improving outcomes.
• While under-reported, Asian contributions to global HTx data are substantial and growing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the trends, outcomes, and unique challenges of heart transplantation in Asia.
• To compare Asian HTx results with international data from the ISHLT registry.
• To highlight specific considerations for HTx in Asian populations, including endemic infections and cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV).

Main Methods:

• Review of heart transplantation data and trends in Asian countries.
• Comparison of outcomes with the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) registry.
• Analysis of specific clinical aspects, including endemic infections and prevalence of CAV.

Main Results:

• HTx in Asia demonstrates outcomes comparable to or exceeding ISHLT registry data.
• Endemic infections (Hepatitis B, TB, CMV) require specialized management in Asian HTx recipients.
• Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) appears less prevalent and more benign in Asian populations compared to global trends.

Conclusions:

• Asian heart transplantation programs are advancing rapidly with excellent results.
• Addressing endemic infections and understanding the lower prevalence of CAV are crucial for optimizing Asian HTx care.
• Despite socio-cultural and legal hurdles, the field of HTx in Asia is poised for significant expansion.