West LA Times

Medicaid-insured heart transplant patients are at a greater risk of post-transplant complications, as revealed by a recent study conducted by UCLA Health. The research, published in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, highlights the increased likelihood of these patients developing cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), a condition that can limit long-term survival and is responsible for over 30% of deaths within the first decade following heart transplantation.

The study analyzed heart transplant recipients aged 18 and older, comparing Medicaid and non-Medicaid cohorts before and after the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Findings indicated that Medicaid-insured patients had higher chances of developing CAV over five years, with poorer survival rates observed particularly in the post-ACA era.

"CAV is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality following heart transplant. Our work demonstrates that socioeconomic disadvantage influences the risk of CAV in the months and years following this lifesaving operation," stated Sara Sakowitz, a medical student at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and first author of the study. She added, "Although the ACA has expanded access to heart transplantation for previously uninsured patients, significant barriers to accessing longitudinal post-transplant treatment, affordable medications and equitable, high-quality care remain."

The research also pointed out that treatment at high-volume transplant centers reduced the risk of developing CAV. Medicaid patients treated at these centers showed similar risks compared to those not on Medicaid. Several factors contribute to better outcomes at high-volume centers.

"Patients treated at high-volume transplant centers often benefit from specialized expertise, comprehensive care and robust patient support systems," explained Peyman Benharash, a cardiothoracic surgeon at UCLA Health and director of the Extracorporeal Life Support program. He noted that such centers have dedicated teams and streamlined protocols ensuring consistent follow-up and access to essential medications, which significantly improve post-transplant outcomes and survival rates.