Left ventricular assist device as 'bridge to weight loss' prior to transplantation in obese patients with advanced heart failure.

BACKGROUND

Obesity is a risk factor for heart failure (HF) and associated with poor outcomes after cardiac transplantation. We assessed change in total body weight, morbidity and mortality in obese heart failure patients after implantation of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) compared to medical management.

METHODS

Nineteen patients (9 females, age 51.3 ± 10 years) with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30.0 kg/m² and advanced HF (NYHA class III-IV, stage D) were evaluated. Thirteen (group 1) received insertion of a LVAD as bridge to transplantation. The remaining patients (group 2) were medically managed. All were advised on lifestyle modification.

RESULTS

At baseline, group 1 (49.1 ± 10.7 years) had a total body weight (BW) of 246.6 ± 34.9 pounds (mean ± SD) and a BMI of 36.1 ± 4 kg/m². Group 2 (56 ± 6.7 yrs) had a BW of 238.8 ± 73.6 pounds and a BMI of 39.1 ± 9.3 kg/m2 (n.s. compared to group 1). All patients were alive at 12 months. At 6 months, BW in group 1 was reduced to 216.3 ± 20.8 pounds, and BMI to 31.8 ± 3.3 kg/m² (p < 0.05). At 6 months, BW in group 2 was 238.2 ± 84.6 pounds, and BMI was 39.1 ± 11.6 kg/m² (n.s. vs. baseline, p < 0.05 compared to group 1). The decrease in BW in group 1 was 12.3 ± 12% (30.3 ± 28.5 pounds). There was no change in BW in group 2 (0.3 ± 8.7%, 0.6 ± 21 pounds, p < 0.05 vs. group 1). At 12 months, 7 patients in group 1 (54%) underwent cardiac transplantation.

CONCLUSIONS

LVAD insertion resulted in weight loss in obese patients not considered for heart transplantation compared to medically managed patients.