Table 1.
Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients prior to LVAD implantation
| Normal weight (n = 17) | Pre-obesity (n = 24) | Obesity (n = 27) | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age at implantation, years | 64.0±1.7 | 60.0±1.8 | 57.4±2.0 | 0.06 |
| Male gender, n (%) | 15 (88.2) | 19 (79.2) | 23 (85.2) | 0.77 |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 22.0±0.6 | 27.5±0.3 | 35.7±0.8 | <0.01 |
| Etiology, n (%) | ||||
| ICM | 10 (58.8) | 14 (58.3) | 10 (37.0) | 0.22 |
| DCM | 7 (41.2) | 10 (41.7) | 17 (63.0) | |
| NYHA classification, n (%) | ||||
| Class II | 1 (9.1) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0.06 |
| Class III | 6 (35.3) | 9 (37.5) | 18 (66.7) | |
| Class IV | 9 (52.9) | 15 (62.5) | 9 (33.3) | |
| Indication of LVAD, n (%) | ||||
| Bridge to transplant | 1 (5.9) | 5 (20.8) | 3 (11.1) | 0.76 |
| Bridge to decision | 8 (47.1) | 10 (41.7) | 13 (48.1) | |
| Destination therapy | 8 (47.1) | 9 (37.5) | 11 (40.7) | |
| LVAD device, n (%) | ||||
| HeartMate 3™ | 12 (70.6) | 21 (87.5) | 26 (96.3) | 0.05 |
| HVAD™ | 5 (29.4) | 3 (12.5) | 1 (3.7) | |
| Comorbidities, n (%) | ||||
| Arterial hypertension | 16 (94.1) | 21 (87.5) | 24 (88.9) | 0.89 |
| Hyperlipoproteinemia | 9 (52.9) | 10 (41.7) | 19 (70.4) | 0.12 |
| Diabetes mellitus type 2 | 6 (35.3) | 13 (54.2) | 11 (40.7) | 0.44 |
| Chronic kidney disease | 9 (52.9) | 14 (58.3) | 21 (77.8) | 0.17 |
| Hypothyroidism | 0 (0) | 5 (20.8) | 4 (14.8) | 0.13 |
| Chronic inflammatory disease | 1 (5.9) | 1 (4.2) | 1 (3.7) | 1 |
| COPD/bronchial asthma | 3 (17.6) | 0 (0) | 2 (7.4) | 0.08 |
| Presence of CRT/ICD, n (%) | 14 (82.4) | 13 (54.2) | 23 (85.2) | 0.04 |
| Prior valve surgery, n (%) | 4 (23.5) | 4 (16.7) | 9 (33.3) | 0.40 |
| Prior CVA, n (%) | 3 (17.6) | 4 (16.7) | 3 (11.1) | 0.75 |
| Prior malign disease, n (%) | 4 (23.5) | 3 (12.5) | 1 (3.7) | 0.13 |
| History of chemotherapy/radiation, n (%) | 1 (5.9) | 2 (8.3) | 0 (0) | 0.34 |
| Infectious diseasesa, n (%) | 4 (23.5) | 6 (25.0) | 5 (18.5) | 0.87 |
| Intolerancesb, n (%) | 2 (11.8) | 6 (25.0) | 5 (18.5) | 0.91 |
| History of drug abuse, n (%) | 0 (0) | 1 (4.2) | 1 (3.7) | 1 |
| Nicotine consumption, n (%) | ||||
| Current nicotine abuse | 4 (23.5) | 4 (16.7) | 7 (25.9) | 0.08 |
| Former nicotine abuse | 9 (52.9) | 9 (37.5) | 17 (63.0) | |
| Nonsmoker | 4 (23.5) | 8 (33.3) | 1 (3.7) | |
| Not specified | 0 (0) | 3 (12.5) | 2 (7.4) | |
| Alcohol consumption, n (%) | ||||
| Current alcohol abuse | 3 (17.6) | 2 (8.3) | 2 (7.4) | 0.63 |
| Former alcohol abuse | 3 (17.6) | 6 (25.0) | 3 (11.1) | |
| No alcohol abuse | 10 (58.8) | 13 (54.2) | 16 (59.3) | |
| Not specified | 1 (5.9) | 3 (12.5) | 6 (22.2) | |
BMI, body mass index; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CRT, cardiac resynchronization therapy; CVA, cerebrovascular accident; DCM, dilatative cardiomyopathy; HTx, heart transplantation; ICD, implantable cardioverter defibrillator; ICM, ischemic cardiomyopathy; LVAD, left ventricular assist device; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; NYHA, New York Heart Association.
aFrom 6 weeks prior to LVAD implantation.
bIncludes intolerances to medicines, foods, insect venoms.