Impact of nutritional state on lung transplant outcomes: The weight of the evidence

Despite advances in perioperative and post-operative management, lung transplant recipients with select pre transplant risk factors have been shown to experience worse post-transplant outcomes in comparison to those without such risk factors. Among these variables, previous studies have shown that select markers of poor nutritional status prior to transplant, such as low body mass index (BMI) and hypoalbuminemia, have been associated with increased post-transplant mortality. In a past issue of the journal, Chamogeorgakis el al. examine a comprehensive battery markers previously associated with malnutrition to determine their impact on outcomes after lung transplantation. The authors find that hypoalbuminemia is associated with worse survival, but does not appear to affect the risk of post-transplant infections. This article reviews the study presented by Chamogeorgakis et al. to discuss how it furthers our understanding of the impact of nutritional status on transplant-related outcomes and consider areas for future investigation.