Table 5.

Significant risk factors for shorter 3-year survival in 347 HT recipients by 2 post-HT weight groups^a: Group 1 = non-overweight; Group 2 = overweight.

Risk factorb	Group 1 (N = 108)	Group 2 (N = 239)	Wald statistic	Pc	Relative riskd
Higher prednisone dose (mg)	21.6 ± 11.8	24.6 ± 14.5	54.57	.000
Severe renal dysfunctione	18.5%	13.4%	14.71	.000	3.24
Earlier IV-treated infection (days)	256 ± 368	335 ± 385	9.92	.002
Female patient	29.6%	15.9%	7.65	.006	2.30
Higher cholesterol level (mg/dl)	209 ± 42	221 ± 46	7.28	.007
Respiratory failure	31.5%	18.8%	6.72	.010	2.12

HT, heart transplant; IV, intravenous.

^aWeight groups based on mean post-transplant BMI (body mass index = kg/m²): Group 1 (non-overweight) = BMI <25 (range = 16–24, mean = 22, SD = 1.9); Group 2 (overweight) = BMI ≥ 25 (range = 25–40, mean = 29, SD = 3.2).

^bFrom multivariate Cox regression. Nonsignificant variables in regression model: patient age at HT, patient race, repeat HT, cardiac allograft vasculopathy, diabetes, lymphoma, liver failure, stroke, time to first treated acute rejection.

^cSignificance determined at P ≤ .025.

^dRelative risk applies to dichotomous risk factors only.

^eDefined as a serum creatinine >2.5 mg/dl or a diagnosis of renal failure or on dialysis.⁹