Left ventricular ejection fraction less than 40% is a useful predictor for poor patient survival in kidney transplant recipients over age 50 years

DUE TO ADVANCING AGE the prognosis of renal tranplanted patients is considered to be uncertain since the risk of vascular complications is increased. Nevertheless, renal transplantation has been proposed to provide better survival rates compared to hemodialysis in older patients. However, cardiovascular complications, which are more frequently present in older recipients, are wellknown risk factors for kidney transplantation. Previous studies have reported the association between left ventricular hypertrophy and adverse outcomes following transplantation. Thus, an accurate assessment of the prognosis of patients after kidney transplantation appears to be highly dependent on appropriate preoperative screening for risk factors. In the present study, we evaluated predictors for poor patient survival among renal transplant recipients over age 50 years based upon the risk factors present in patients who survived less than versus more than 2 years.