Retrospective Cohort Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2018.
World J Transplantation. Sep 10, 2018; 8(5): 167-177
Published online Sep 10, 2018. doi: 10.5500/wjt.v8.i5.167
Table 1 Donor characteristics n (%)
Donor characteristicsTotal5 yr periods
P-value1
Period 1
Period 2
Period 3
Period 4
1990-19941995-19992000-20042005-2009
Age, mean (SD)39.1 (17.4)32.3 (15.2)37.0 (17.4)40.6 (17.6)42.4 (17.2)< 0.001
Gender< 0.001
Female27884 (39.6)3831 (35.4)6397 (40.1)8077 (41.0)9579 (40.1)
Male42492 (60.4)6998 (64.6)9573 (59.9)11625 (59.0)14296 (59.9)
BMI, mean (SD)25.9 (5.7)23.8 (4.6)24.8 (5.2)26.0 (5.6)27.0 (6.0)< 0.001
BMI< 0.001
Underweight3310 (4.7)502 (4.6)1077 (6.7)910 (4.6)821 (3.4)
Normal29093 (41.3)3655 (33.8)7698 (48.2)8730 (44.3)9010 (37.7)
Overweight20441 (29.1)1582 (14.6)4461 (27.9)6345 (32.2)8053 (33.7)
Obese - Class I7921 (11.3)384 (3.6)1369 (8.6)2459 (12.5)3709 (15.5)
Obese - Class II2722 (3.9)84 (0.8)367 (2.3)801 (4.1)1470 (6.2)
Obese - Class III1496 (2.1)47 (0.4)196 (1.2)446 (2.3)807 (3.4)
Unknown5394 (7.7)4575 (42.3)802 (5.0)12 (0.1)5 (0.0)
Ethnicity< 0.001
White51594 (73.3)8747 (80.8)12334 (77.2)14444 (73.3)16069 (67.3)
Black9195 (13.1)1044 (9.6)1741 (10.9)2481 (12.6)3929 (16.5)
Hispanic7460 (10.6)812 (7.5)1396 (8.7)2144 (10.9)3108 (13.0)
Asian1327 (1.9)135 (1.3)255 (1.6)395 (2.0)542 (2.3)
Other662 (0.9)47 (0.4)164 (1.0)224 (1.1)227 (1.0)
Unknown139 (0.2)44 (0.4)80 (0.5)15 (0.1)
Causes of death< 0.001
Anoxia7848 (11.2)483 (4.5)1256 (7.9)2028 (10.3)4081 (17.1)
Cerebrovascular/stroke29788 (42.3)3778 (34.9)6645 (41.6)8929 (45.3)10436 (43.7)
Head trauma28087 (39.9)3576 (33.0)7592 (47.5)8171 (41.5)8748 (36.6)
Table 2 Recipient characteristics n (%)
Recipient characteristicsTotal5 yr periods
P-value1
Period 1
Period 2
Period 3
Period 4
1990-19941995-19992000-20042005-2009
Age, mean (SD)51.3 (10.5)48.2 (11.4)49.8 (10.5)51.5 (9.7)53.5 (9.9)< 0.001
Gender< 0.001
Female25073 (35.6)4724 (43.6)6272 (39.3)6544 (33.2)7533 (31.6)
Male45304 (64.4)6105 (56.4)9698 (60.7)13159 (66.8)16342 (68.5)
BMI, mean (SD)27.75 (5.6)26.26 (5.3)27.47 (5.6)28.03 (5.6)28.35 (5.6)< 0.001
BMI< 0.001
Underweight1458 (2.1)371 (3.4)319 (2.0)364 (1.9)404 (1.7)
Normal22533 (32.0)4580 (42.3)5395 (33.8)5868 (29.8)6690 (28.0)
Overweight24550 (34.9)3436 (31.7)5494 (34.4)7077 (35.9)8543 (35.8)
Obese - Class I13417 (19.1)1488 (13.7)2771 (17.4)3991 (20.3)5167 (21.6)
Obese - Class II5583 (7.9)527 (4.9)1166 (7.3)1623 (8.2)2267 (9.5)
Obese - Class III2084 (3.0)203 (1.9)452 (2.8)629 (3.2)800 (3.4)
Unknown752 (1.1)224 (2.1)373 (2.3)151 (0.8)4 (0.0)
Ethnicity< 0.001
White53474 (76.0)8839 (81.6)12501 (78.3)14844 (75.3)17290 (72.4)
Black5448 (7.7)631 (5.8)1097 (6.9)1565 (7.9)2155 (9.0)
Hispanic7907 (11.2)901 (8.3)1655 (10.4)2294 (11.6)3057 (12.8)
Asian2785 (4.0)317 (2.9)555 (3.5)785 (4.0)1128 (4.7)
Other719 (1.0)99 (0.9)160 (1.0)215 (1.1)245 (1.0)
Unknown44 (0.1)42 (0.4)2 (0.0)
Highest education level0.2
Unknown26282 (37.3)9872 (91.2)5735 (35.9)5897 (29.9)4778 (20.0)
Less than high school2335 (3.3)55 (0.5)513 (3.2)704 (3.6)1063 (4.5)
High school (9-12) or GED21249 (30.2)438 (4.0)4846 (30.3)6835 (34.7)9130 (38.2)
College less than graduate17559 (25.0)384 (3.6)4183 (26.2)5359 (27.2)7633 (32.0)
Graduate2952 (4.2)80 (0.7)693 (4.3)908 (4.6)1271 (5.3)
Causes of liver failure< 0.001
Alcoholic cirrhosis9857 (14.0)2165 (20.0)2366 (14.8)2497 (12.7)2829 (11.9)
Alcoholic cirrhosis with hepatitis C4467 (6.4)302 (2.8)1373 (8.6)1244 (6.3)1548 (6.5)
Cirrhosis: Autoimmune2486 (3.5)568 (5.3)696 (4.4)629 (3.2)593 (2.5)
Cirrhosis: Cryptogenic (Idiopathic)5918 (8.4)1397 (12.9)1565 (9.8)1515 (7.7)1441 (6.0)
Cirrhosis: Fatty liver (NASH)1442 (2.1)9 (0.1)173 (0.9)1260 (5.3)
Cirrhosis: Hepatitis type B (HBSAG+)2367 (3.4)509 (4.7)675 (4.2)694 (3.5)489 (2.1)
Cirrhosis: Hepatitis type C17611 (25.0)1849 (17.1)4024 (25.2)6058 (30.8)5680 (23.8)
Other13851 (19.7)2344 (21.7)3195 (20.0)4196 (21.3)4116 (17.2)
PLM: Hepatoma (HCC) and cirrhosis4960 (7.1)143 (1.3)272 (1.7)984 (5.0)3561 (14.9)
PLM: Hepatoma - HCC1954 (2.8)173 (1.6)141 (0.9)423 (2.2)1217 (5.1)
Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC)3762 (5.4)1122 (10.4)1105 (6.9)814 (4.1)721 (3.0)
PSC: Ulcerative colitis1702 (2.4)257 (2.4)549 (3.4)476 (2.4)420 (1.8)
Table 3 Recipient perioperative data n (%)
Recipient characteristicsTotal5 yr periods
P-value1
Period 1
Period 2
Period 3
Period 4
1990-19941995-19992000-20042005-2009
MELD (median) (Q1-Q3)
Listing16 (12-23)NANA16 (12-23)16 (12-23)
Transplant18 (13-26)NANA18 (13-25)19 (14-27)
CIT (median hours) (Q1-Q3)8 (6.0-10.0)10.3 (8.0-13.2)8.5 (6.5-10.9)7.3 (5.7-9.5)7 (5.1-8.7)< 0.001
WIT(median Minutes) (Q1-Q3)45 (35.0-59.0)58 (45.0-75.0)48 (38.0-60.0)40 (31.0-50.0)40 (31.0-49.0)< 0.001
Waiting list/inactive (median days) (Q1-Q3)93 (21-278)53 (14-31)151 (45-332)124 (27-386)68 (15-235)< 0.001
Hospital stay (median days) (Q1-Q3)12 (08-20)20 (14-31)13 (09-21)10 (07-17)10 (07-16)< 0.001
Table 4 Functional status and medical condition n (%)
Recipient characteristicsTotal5 yr periods
P-value1
Period 1
Period 2
Period 3
Period 4
1990-19941995-19992000-20042005-2009
Functional status - listing< 0.001
Unknown16999 (24.2)7131 (65.9)3916 (24.5)4279 (21.7)1673 (7.0)
ADL with no assistance30882 (43.9)1527 (14.1)8019 (50.2)11006 (55.9)10330 (43.3)
ADL with some assistance16803 (23.9)2096 (19.4)3772 (23.6)4101 (20.8)6834 (28.6)
ADL with total assistance5693 (8.1)75 (0.7)263 (1.7)317 (1.6)5038 (21.1)
Functional status - transplant< 0.001
Unknown22251 (31.6)7686 (71)6695 (41.9)6722 (34.1)1148 (4.8)
ADL with no assistance23277 (33.1)1338 (12.4)5959 (37.3)8363 (42.5)7617 (31.9)
ADL with some assistance15434 (21.9)1686 (15.6)2876 (18.0)3986 (20.2)6886 (28.8)
ADL with total assistance9415 (13.4)119 (1.1)440 (2.8)632 (3.2)8224 (34.5)
Medical condition - listing< 0.001
Unknown14394 (20.5)83 (0.8)76 (0.5)5 (0.0)14230 (59.6)
ICU4549 (6.5)1354 (12.5)1208 (7.6)1339 (6.8)648 (2.7)
Hospitalized not in ICU5949 (8.5)1447 (13.4)1615 (10.1)1819 (9.2)1068 (4.5)
Not Hospitalized45485 (64.6)7945 (73.4)13071 (81.9)16540 (84.0)7929 (33.2)
Medical condition - transplant< 0.001
Unknown28 (0.0)2 (0.0)26 (0.2)
ICU10220 (14.5)1883 (17.4)2824 (17.7)2946 (15.0)2567 (10.8)
Hospitalized not in ICU12076 (17.2)2219 (20.5)3467 (21.7)2613 (13.3)3777 (15.8)
Not Hospitalized48053 (68.3)6725 (62.1)9653 (60.4)14144 (71.8)17531 (73.4)
Table 5 Medical comorbidities n (%)
Recipient characteristicsTotal5 yr periods
P-value1
Period 1
Period 2
Period 3
Period 4
1990-19941995-19992000-20042005-2009
Diabetes< 0.001
Unknown11392 (16.2)9331 (86.2)848 (5.3)714 (3.6)499 (2.1)
No DM47401 (67.4)1310 (12.1)12792 (80.1)15326 (77.8)17973 (75.3)
Type 1 DM702 (1.0)63 (0.3)639 (2.7)
Type 2 DM10882 (15.5)188 (1.7)2330 (14.6)3600 (18.3)4764 (20.0)
COPD0.4
Unknown26589 (37.8)9359 (86.4)1387 (8.7)1159 (5.9)14684 (61.5)
No43172 (61.3)1449 (13.4)14412 (90.2)18280 (92.8)9031 (37.8)
Yes616 (0.9)21 (0.2)171 (1.1)264 (1.3)160 (0.7)
Hypertension< 0.001
Unknown26387 (37.5)9412 (86.9)1115 (7.0)1159 (5.9)14701 (61.6)
No37629 (53.5)1288 (11.9)13356 (83.6)15664 (79.5)7321 (30.7)
Yes6361 (9.0)129 (1.2)1499 (9.4)2880 (14.6)1853 (7.8)
Angina0.5
Unknown28259 (40.2)9365 (86.5)1019 (6.4)2103 (10.7)15772 (66.1)
No angina40926 (58.2)1416 (13.1)14567 (91.2)17081 (86.7)7862 (32.9)
Angina1192 (1.7)48 (0.4)384 (2.4)519 (2.6)241 (1.0)
Dialysis< 0.001
Unknown9682 (13.8)8532 (78.8)629 (3.9)471 (2.4)50 (0.2)
No57690 (82.0)2234 (20.6)14789 (92.6)18282 (92.8)22385 (93.8)
Yes3005 (4.3)63 (0.6)552 (3.5)950 (4.8)1440 (6.0)
Table 6 Graft status n (%)
Recipient characteristicsTotal5 yr periods
P-value1
Period 1
Period 2
Period 3
Period 4
1990-19941995-19992000-20042005-2009
Graft status< 0.0001
Not Failed35460 (50.4)2879 (26.6)6221 (39)10361 (52.6)15999 (67)
Failed34917 (49.6)7950 (73.4)9749 (61.1)9342 (47.4)7876 (33)
Treated for rejection ≤ 12 mo< 0.0001
Unknown37869 (53.8)10081 (93.1)12610 (79)8066 (40.9)7112 (29.8)
No25835 (36.7)145 (1.3)2000 (12.5)9392 (47.7)14298 (59.9)
Yes6673 (9.5)603 (5.6)1360 (8.5)2245 (11.4)2465 (10.3)
Causes of graft failure
Biliary< 0.001
Unknown23875 (68.4)6299 (79.2)6558 (62.3)5989 (64.1)5029 (63.9)
No10098 (28.9)1514 (19)2981 (30.6)3112 (33.3)2491 (31.6)
Yes944 (2.7)137 (1.7)210 (2.1)241 (2.6)356 (4.5)
Hep de novo0.0006
Unknown23854 (68.32)6329 (79.61)6551 (67.2)5971 (63.92)5003 (63.52)
No10968 (31.41)1591 (20.01)3168 (32.5)3356 (35.92)2853 (36.22)
Yes95 (0.27)30 (0.38)30 (0.31)15 (0.16)20 (0.25)
Hep recurrence0.9
Unknown23670 (67.79)6230 (78.36)6523 (66.91)5929 (63.47)4988 (63.33)
No8086 (23.16)1232 (15.5)2387 (24.48)2403 (25.72)2064 (26.21)
Yes3161 (9.05)488 (6.14)839 (8.61)1010 (10.81)824 (10.46)
Infection<0.001
Unknown23794 (68.14)6213 (78.15)6564 (67.33)5986 (64.08)5031 (63.88)
No9429 (27)1333 (16.77)2690 (27.59)2897 (31.01)2509 (31.86)
Yes1694 (4.85)404 (5.08)495 (5.08)459 (4.91)336 (4.27)
Primary graft failure0.0013
Unknown23289 (66.7)5921 (74.48)6475 (66.42)5901 (63.17)4992 (63.38)
No8392 (24.03)1369 (17.22)2432 (24.95)2521 (26.99)2070 (26.28)
Yes3236 (9.27)660 (8.3)842 (8.64)920 (9.85)814 (10.34)
Recurrent disease0.3
Unknown23686 (67.84)6177 (77.7)6536 (67.04)5965 (63.85)5008 (63.59)
No9548 (27.34)1464 (18.42)2862 (29.36)2890 (30.94)2332 (29.61)
Yes1683 (4.82)309 (3.89)351 (3.6)487 (5.21)536 (6.81)
Acute rejection0.6
Unknown23854 (68.32)6318 (79.47)6546 (67.15)5969 (63.89)5021 (63.75)
No10374 (29.71)1530 (19.25)2999 (30.76)3180 (34.04)2665 (33.84)
Yes689 (1.97)102 (1.28)204 (2.09)193 (2.07)190 (2.41)
Chronic rejection<0.001
Unknown26635 (76.28)6507 (81.85)7441 (76.33)6927 (74.15)5760 (73.13)
No7018 (20.1)1124 (14.14)1949 (19.99)2128 (22.78)1817 (23.07)
Yes1264 (3.62)319 (4.01)359 (3.68)287 (3.07)299 (3.8)
Vascular thrombosis0.3
Unknown23750 (68.02)6231 (78.38)6535 (67.03)5970 (63.9)5014 (63.66)
No9635 (27.59)1473 (18.53)2780 (28.52)2964 (31.73)2418 (30.7)
Yes1532 (4.39)246 (3.09)434 (4.45)408 (4.37)444 (5.64)
Table 7 Recipient status n (%)
Recipient characteristicsTotal5 yr periods
P-value1
Period 1
Period 2
Period 3
Period 4
1990-19941995-19992000-20042005-2009
Re-transplantation< 0.001
No64588 (91.8)9586 (88.5)14350 (89.9)18180 (92.3)22472 (94.1)
Yes5789 (8.2)1243 (11.5)1620 (10.1)1523 (7.7)1403 (5.9)
Causes of death< 0.001
Cardiovascular/cardio2893 (9.9)718 (10.7)783 (9.6)735 (9.4)657 (10.2)
Cerebrovascular647 (2.2)177 (2.6)191 (2.4)146 (1.9)133 (2.1)
Graft Failure3363 (11.6)677 (10.1)895 (11)948 (12.1)843 (13)
Hemorrhage825 (2.8)237 (3.5)213 (2.6)222 (2.8)153 (2.4)
Infection3794 (13)1032 (15.4)1011 (12.4)893 (11.4)858 (13.3)
Malignancy3477 (12)704 (10.5)847 (10.4)931 (11.9)995 (15.4)
Multiorgan failure2192 (7.5)349 (5.2)536 (6.6)669 (8.6)638 (9.9)
Other3378 (11.6)629 (9.4)919 (11.3)1004 (12.9)826 (12.8)
Pulmonary965 (3.3)187 (2.8)260 (3.2)269 (3.4)249 (3.9)
Renal failure708 (2.4)208 (3.1)237 (2.9)167 (2.1)96 (1.5)
Unknown6861 (23.6)1788 (26.7)2232 (27.5)1825 (23.4)1016 (15.7)
Table 8 Cox proportional hazards regression of survival after liver transplantation
Unadjusted HR (95%CI)Adjusted HR (95%CI)1
Over all patient survival
Period 2 (1995-1999 vs 1990-1994)0.90 (0.87-0.93)0.90 (0.84-0.94)
Period 3 (2000-2004 vs 1990-1994)0.87 (0.84-0.90)0.76 (0.72-0.81)
Period 4 (2005-2009 vs 1990-1994)0.83 (0.80-0.86)0.67 (0.62-0.72)
5 yr patient survival
Period 2 (1995-1999 vs 1990-1994)0.90 (0.86-0.95)0.90 (0.82-0.98)
Period 3 (2000-2004 vs 1990-1994)0.90 (0.86-0.95)0.80 (0.73-0.88)
Period 4 (2005-2009 vs 1990-1994)0.86 (0.82-0.90)0.73 (0.66-0.80)
Over all graft survival
Period 2 (1995-1999 vs 1990-1994)0.90 (0.87-0.93)0.88 (0.83-0.93)
Period 3 (2000-2004 vs 1990-1994)0.84 (0.82-0.87)0.74 (0.70-0.79)
Period 4 (2005-2009 vs 1990-1994)0.80 (0.76-0.81)0.66 (0.62-0.71)
5 yr graft survival
Period 2 (1995-1999 vs 1990-1994)0.91 (0.87-0.95)0.89 (0.82-0.96)
Period 3 (2000-2004 vs 1990-1994)0.87 (0.84-0.91)0.77 (0.71-0.84)
Period 4 (2005-2009 vs 1990-1994)0.81 (0.76-0.84)0.71 (0.65-0.77)