Figure 4.
Spline function curve for the impact of cholesterol level at 3 mo after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation on mortality during LVAD support. The hazard of mortality reaches a lower threshold around a total cholesterol level of 130 mg/dL at 3 mo post-LVAD implantation. The nadir for the hazard of mortality is around 170 mg/dL. The spline curve adjusted for age, ischemic heart failure cause, ejection fraction, bridge-to-transplantation strategy, and baseline cholesterol is displayed.