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Heart failure & cardiomyopathiesCohort study

Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Patients With Advanced Heart Failure From Before to 2 Years After Heart Transplantation or Long-Term Mechanical Circulatory Support: Findings From the SUSTAIN-IT Study

Circ Heart FailPublished

  • observational study
  • 13 US sites
  • multivariable linear mixed-effects models
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Authors' conclusion

HT MCS improvement in HRQOL varied by measure; HT non-MCS and long-term MCS improvement occurred through 24 months, regardless of measure. Domains of HRQOL improved after these surgeries, varying by surgical strategy and postoperative time period. Long-term MCS was associated with a decrease in HRQOL across time. These findings provide important information for patients considering treatment options.

Study context

Population
Older (60–80 years) patients with advanced heart failure undergoing heart transplantation (HT) or long-term mechanical circulatory support (MCS)underwent surgery, of 393 enrollees · HT MCS 69 · HT non-MCS 92 · long-term MCS 144
Participants
305 participants
Exposure
Change in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) from before to 24 months after HT or long-term MCS, by surgical strategy
  • HT MCSn = 69
  • HT non-MCSn = 92
  • long-term MCSn = 144

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

EuroQol-5-dimension-3L visual analog scale score · 6 to 24 months after surgery
  • HT non-MCS and long-term MCS: significant improvement within 6 months after surgery, sustained through 24 months
  • HT MCS: baseline score higher than the other 2 groups; did not improve significantly through 24 months

Observational data: associations, not effects.

Further findings

Outcomedecrement (points) (CI)P value
Main effect of long-term MCS vs HT non-MCS on HRQOL — long-term MCS vs HT non-MCS−11.2 (−17.3 to −5.1)P < 0.001
Main effect of long-term MCS vs HT non-MCS on HRQOL — long-term MCS vs HT non-MCS−9.9 (−16.1 to −3.8)P = 0.002
  • Main effect of long-term MCS vs HT non-MCS on HRQOL: Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire-12 overall summary score; lower with long-term MCS
  • Main effect of long-term MCS vs HT non-MCS on HRQOL: EuroQol-5-dimension-3L visual analog scale; lower with long-term MCS

Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire-12 overall summary score · baseline-6 months, sustained through 24 months

Improved in all 3 groups

Cohort characteristics

Average age
66.9±4.7 years
male
78%
White
83%
married/partnered
78%
>high school education
71%

Original publication

Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Patients With Advanced Heart Failure From Before to 2 Years After Heart Transplantation or Long-Term Mechanical Circulatory Support: Findings From the SUSTAIN-IT Study. Circ Heart Fail. Published 21 September 2026. doi:10.1161/circheartfailure.125.013871
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Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it