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Donation after circulatory death heart transplantation

Donation after circulatory death heart transplantation has been studied in 2 papers since 2026: 2 observational studies in people; 2 in the past year. The newest story, Nov 7, 2026: “Heart transplant survival was similar after two types of donation”.

Exposure

2 papers study it8 findingsUpdated

2 new papers in 30 daysSee all 2 papers on donation after circulatory death heart transplantation

At a glance

The findings reach people, from one lab or study. 2 independent labs.

“DCD was not associated with increased one-year mortality at donor age 40”
Beyond the Age Threshold: Outcomes of Donation After Circulatory Death Heart TransplantationAHA Scientific Sessions 2026 abstract2026doi:10.1161/circ.154.suppl_1.14570

None of its findings points the other way.

Humans: a single group. Cells, worms or flies and mice: nothing yet.

C, W, M, H: cells, worms or flies, mice, humans. Dark: independent labs found the same change there. Light: one lab or one study. Outline: nothing yet.

Labs are independent when their papers share no last author and no institution.

  • 2 independent labs
  • Humans2

What did studies of donation after circulatory death heart transplantation find?

4

Studies of donation after circulatory death heart transplantation measured 4 outcomes, among them five-year all-cause mortality, one-year graft failure and one-year all-cause mortality.

Five-year all-cause mortality

no changein humans1HR 0.85

1 study

  1. Donation after circulatory death heart transplantation was not clearly linked with five-year all-cause mortality in humans (Compared with donation after brain death heart transplantation; adjusted model) (Adjusted HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.72–1.02; P=0.077).

    “DCD was not associated with increased adjusted five-year mortality at donor age 40”

    HumansCompared with donation after brain death heart transplantation; adjusted modelheartFive years

    Heart transplant survival was similar after two types of donation

    AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 abstract

One-year graft failure

no changein humans1HR 0.86

1 study

  1. Donation after circulatory death heart transplantation was not clearly linked with one-year graft failure in humans (Compared with donation after brain death heart transplantation) (HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.70–1.05; P=0.138).

    “One-year graft failure was also similar at donor age 40”

    HumansCompared with donation after brain death heart transplantationheartOne year

    Heart transplant survival was similar after two types of donation

    AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 abstract

More on One-year graft failure

One-year all-cause mortality

no changein humans1HR 0.84

1 study

  1. Donation after circulatory death heart transplantation was not clearly linked with one-year all-cause mortality in humans (Compared with donation after brain death heart transplantation; adjusted model) (Adjusted HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.68–1.03; P=0.101).

    “DCD was not associated with increased one-year mortality at donor age 40”

    HumansCompared with donation after brain death heart transplantation; adjusted modelheartOne yearn = 21,970

    Heart transplant survival was similar after two types of donation

    AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 abstract

1-year all-cause mortality

no changein humans1HR 0.93

1 study

  1. Donation after circulatory death heart transplantation was not clearly linked with 1-year all-cause mortality in humans (First-time isolated heart transplantation; compared with donation after brain death) (7.3% DCD vs 7.9% DBD; HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.78-1.11; P = 0.433).

    “Mortality did not differ significantly across timepoints, including at 1 year (7.3% DCD vs 7.9% DBD; HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.78-1.11; P = 0.433)”

    HumansFirst-time isolated heart transplantation; compared with donation after brain deathheart1 yearn = 16,266

    Donor Age and Outcomes After Donation After Circulatory Death Versus Brain Death Heart Transplantation: An Effect-Modification Analysis

    Frontiers in transplantation

What is donation after circulatory death heart transplantation linked with?

4

Studies link donation after circulatory death heart transplantation with 4 measures, among them post-transplant dialysis, post-transplant dialysis and temporary mechanical circulatory support.

Post-transplant dialysis

upin humans1

1 study

  1. Donation after circulatory death heart transplantation is associated with post-transplant dialysis in humans (Compared with donation after brain death heart transplantation) (20.4% versus 16.0%; P<0.001).

    “Post-transplant dialysis was more frequent after DCD (20.4% vs 16.0%; P<0.001).”

    HumansCompared with donation after brain death heart transplantationWithin one year

    Heart transplant survival was similar after two types of donation

    AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 abstract

Post-transplant dialysis

upin humans1

1 study

  1. Donation after circulatory death heart transplantation is associated with post-transplant dialysis in humans (Compared with donation after brain death heart transplantation).

    “DCD transplantation was associated with higher odds of primary graft dysfunction at 24 hours, temporary mechanical circulatory support at 24- and 72-hours, and post-transplant dialysis.”

    HumansCompared with donation after brain death heart transplantationn = 16,266

    Donor Age and Outcomes After Donation After Circulatory Death Versus Brain Death Heart Transplantation: An Effect-Modification Analysis

    Frontiers in transplantation

More on Post-transplant dialysis

Temporary mechanical circulatory support

upin humans1

1 study

  1. Donation after circulatory death heart transplantation is associated with temporary mechanical circulatory support in humans (Compared with donation after brain death heart transplantation).

    “DCD transplantation was associated with higher odds of primary graft dysfunction at 24 hours, temporary mechanical circulatory support at 24- and 72-hours, and post-transplant dialysis.”

    HumansCompared with donation after brain death heart transplantation24 and 72 hoursn = 16,266

    Donor Age and Outcomes After Donation After Circulatory Death Versus Brain Death Heart Transplantation: An Effect-Modification Analysis

    Frontiers in transplantation

More on Temporary mechanical circulatory support

Primary graft dysfunction

upin humans1

1 study

  1. Donation after circulatory death heart transplantation is associated with primary graft dysfunction in humans (Compared with donation after brain death heart transplantation).

    “DCD transplantation was associated with higher odds of primary graft dysfunction at 24 hours”

    HumansCompared with donation after brain death heart transplantationheart24 hoursn = 16,266

    Donor Age and Outcomes After Donation After Circulatory Death Versus Brain Death Heart Transplantation: An Effect-Modification Analysis

    Frontiers in transplantation

More on Primary graft dysfunction

Latest

Dec 2025: 0Jan 2026: 0Feb 2026: 0Mar 2026: 0Apr 2026: 0May 2026: 0Jun 2026: 0Jul 2026: 0Aug 2026: 0Sep 2026: 0Oct 2026: 1Nov 2026: 12 papers in 12 months
AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 Abstract

Heart transplant survival was similar after two types of donation

Five-year mortality was similar after circulatory-death versus brain-death donation, with a hazard ratio of 0.99 comparing death rates over time.Five-year mortality was similar after circulatory-death versus brain-death donation, with a hazard ratio of 0.99 comparing death rates over time.

Cohort · 21,970 peopleInterventions
Paper

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