Patient-reported dyspnea and health predict waitlist mortality in patients waiting for lung transplantation in Japan

Abstract Background Waitlist mortality due to donor shortage for lung transplantation is a serious problem worldwide. Currently, the selection of recipients is mainly based on registration order in Japan. However, scientific evidence for risk stratification for waitlist mortality is needed in future. We hypothesized that patient-reported dyspnea and health would predict mortality in patients waitlisted for lung transplantation. Methods Using data on 203 patients who were registered as candidates for lung transplantation from deceased donors, we analyzed factors related to waitlist mortality. Dyspnea was evaluated by the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale and health status was measured with the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Results Among 197 patients who met inclusion criteria, the main underlying disease was interstitial pneumonia (IP) in 99 patients. During the median follow-up period of 572 days, 72 patients on the waitlist died and 96 received lung transplantation (69 from deceased donor). Univariable competing risk analyses revealed that both mMRC dyspnea and SGRQ Total were significantly associated with waitlist mortality (p = 0.003 and p < 0.001). Multivariable competing risk analyses revealed that the mMRC and SGRQ were associated with waitlist mortality, among age, IP, arterial carbon dioxide pressure, and forced vital capacity, which were all significant factors in univariable analyses. Conclusions Both mMRC dyspnea and SGRQ were significantly associated with waitlist mortality regardless of patients’ background, underlying disease, and pulmonary function. Patient-reported dyspnea and health should be measured not only from the perspective of multi-dimensional analysis including subjective perceptions, but also as risk stratification for waitlist mortality.