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Advancing Cardiac Care: A Registry of Heart Transplantation in Latin America (1968-2022)
Francisco L Uribe-Buritica1, Pastor Olaya1, Edilma Lucy Rivera1
1Fundación Valle del Lili, Departamento de Cardiología, Cali, 760032, Colombia; Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Icesi, Cali, 760031, Colombia; Fundación Valle del Lili, Centro de Investigaciones Clínicas, Cali, 760032, Colombia.
Insights
Latin America (LATAM) has performed over 12,000 heart transplants (HTx) since 1968. A regional registry is crucial for improving data and patient outcomes despite challenges.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Transplant Surgery
- Public Health
Background:
- Heart transplantation (HTx) is a vital treatment for end-stage heart failure, improving survival and quality of life.
- This study examines the evolution, practices, and disparities of HTx in Latin America (LATAM) from 1968 to 2022.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the landscape of heart transplantation in Latin America.
- To identify regional practices and disparities in HTx.
Main Methods:
- A structured questionnaire was sent to national coordinators in the Interamerican Council of Heart Failure and Pulmonary Hypertension.
- Data were collected from 20 LATAM nations, covering 16 countries and 166 centers.
Main Results:
- A total of 12,374 heart transplants were performed across 16 LATAM countries.
- Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia led in procedure volume.
- Pediatric transplants accounted for 9% of cases, and 62.5% of countries reported combined organ transplants.
Conclusions:
- LATAM possesses a strong capacity for complex transplant procedures despite infrastructural challenges.
- Establishing a structured, regional HTx registry is essential for enhanced data collection and analysis.
- Improved data can inform clinical decisions and policy, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes continent-wide.
Introduction:
Heart transplantation (HTx) has emerged as a pivotal intervention for end-stage heart failure, offering significant improvements in survival and quality of life. This manuscript elucidates the landscape of HTx across Latin America (LATAM) from its advent in 1968 through December 2022, shedding light on its evolution, current practices, and regional disparities.
Methods:
We distributed a structured questionnaire to the national coordinators or representatives of the Interamerican Council of Heart Failure and Pulmonary Hypertension, collating responses from 20 LATAM nations. This approach facilitated a comprehensive aggregation of regional HTx data.
Results:
A total of 12,374 HTx were performed in 166 centers across 16 LATAM countries, with Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia accounting for the majority of procedures. Pediatric transplants represented 9% of the total caseload, and combined organ transplants were reported in 62.5% of the participating countries, underscoring the complexity and breadth of transplant services in the region.
Conclusion:
Despite facing infrastructural and logistical challenges, LATAM has demonstrated a robust capacity to conduct high-complexity transplant procedures. The establishment of a structured, regional HTx registry is imperative to enhance data collection and analysis, which in turn can inform clinical decision-making and policy development, ultimately improving patient outcomes across the continent.
