Lung Transplant Outcomes in Recipients of Advanced Age: Are Two Always Better Than One?

This study investigates lung transplant outcomes across age groups, highlighting key survival trends and risk factors. Among the 33,644 recipients, older patients (aged 65–79 years) more frequently underwent single lung transplantation. Bilateral lung transplantation provided a significant survival advantage over single lung transplantation for recipients up to 74 years of age, but not for those aged 75–79, who showed poor long-term survival regardless of procedure type. A history of prior cardiac surgery was identified as a significant risk factor for decreased survival, with older patients more likely to receive single lung transplants if they had such a history. 

This research underscores the importance of tailored patient selection and surgical approaches for older lung transplant candidates. The findings offer valuable insights into optimizing outcomes and resource allocation for an increasingly older transplant population.