The prevalence of vascular and metabolic complications after lung transplant in people with cystic fibrosis in a Dutch cohort

BACKGROUND: With improvements in care for people with Cystic Fibrosis (pwCF), total survival after Lung Transplantation (LTx) will be longer. Therefore, this population's up-to-date analysis of late-onset post-transplant metabolic and vascular complications will be more relevant in current clinical practice.

METHODS: We studied 100 pwCF who underwent an LTx between 2001 and 2020 at the University Medical Centre Utrecht, the Netherlands. The median age at transplant was 31 years and 55 percent was male. We assessed survival, the prevalence of metabolic complications (diabetes, renal damage, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome), and vascular complications (hypertension, heart rhythm disease, micro-, and macrovascular disease). In addition, differences in risks for developing complications based on sex and overall survival were analyzed.

RESULTS: The prevalence of macrovascular disease raised to 15.9 percent 15 years post-LTx. The prevalence of diabetes increased from 63 percent at LTx to over 90 percent 15 years post-LTx and the prevalence of dyslipidemia increased from 21 percent to over 80 percent. Survival 1-, 2-, 5-, and 10 years post-transplant were 84, 80, 76, and 58 percent respectively. No significant differences were found based on sex.

CONCLUSION: This study shows that the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors increases after LTx for CF, potentially leading to major complications. These data emphasize the necessity of regular check-ups for metabolic and vascular complications after LTx with specific attention to renal damage. Early recognition of these complications is crucial and will lead to earlier intervention, which could lead to improved prognosis after lung transplantation.