GITNUXREPORT 2025

Heart Transplants Statistics

Heart transplants save lives but face supply, cost, and rejection challenges.

Jannik Lindner

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking • Reputable sources • Regular updatesLearn more

Key Statistics

Statistic 1

The use of donor hearts from donors older than 55 years is increasing, with about 25% of transplants involving older donors

Statistic 2

Over 2,600 heart transplants are performed annually in the United States

Statistic 3

The survival rate one year after heart transplant is approximately 90%

Statistic 4

The five-year survival rate post-heart transplant is around 75%

Statistic 5

The total number of people living with a transplanted heart in the U.S. exceeds 40,000

Statistic 6

The primary causes leading to heart failure leading to transplantation include coronary artery disease (around 65%) and cardiomyopathy (about 25%)

Statistic 7

The most common complication post-heart transplant is rejection, occurring in about 30% of patients within the first year

Statistic 8

Heart transplants account for roughly 10-15% of all solid organ transplants annually

Statistic 9

The cost of a heart transplant in the U.S. can exceed $1 million, including preoperative and postoperative care

Statistic 10

The average length of stay in the hospital after a heart transplant is approximately 2 to 3 weeks

Statistic 11

The use of mechanical circulatory support devices, such as LVADs, has increased by over 30% in transplant candidates over recent years

Statistic 12

Around 60% of heart transplant recipients are on immunosuppressive therapy for life to prevent rejection

Statistic 13

The survival rate differs by age, with patients under 18 having approximately a 95% survival at 1 year

Statistic 14

The likelihood of a successful heart transplant significantly depends on the donor-recipient match including size and immunological compatibility

Statistic 15

Post-transplant infection that could lead to rejection or other complications affects approximately 20-30% of recipients within the first year

Statistic 16

The annual number of heart transplants worldwide is estimated to be around 8,000 to 9,000

Statistic 17

The demand for heart transplants far exceeds supply, with waiting lists often exceeding 3,000 patients in the U.S. alone

Statistic 18

The risk of rejection has decreased over the years due to advances in immunosuppressive therapy, improving survival rates

Statistic 19

Heart transplant recipients have a 10-20 fold increased risk of developing certain cancers due to long-term immunosuppression

Statistic 20

Heart transplant recipients are at risk for developing post-operative arrhythmias, which occur in approximately 10-15% of cases

Statistic 21

The most common immunosuppressive drugs used post-transplant include tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and corticosteroids

Statistic 22

The Australian and European countries perform fewer transplants per capita compared to the United States but with similar success rates

Statistic 23

Experienced transplant centers have a lower rate of post-transplant complications and better survival outcomes, according to multiple studies

Statistic 24

The first successful human heart transplant was performed by Dr. Christiaan Barnard in 1967 in South Africa

Statistic 25

Advances in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine aim to develop bioartificial hearts, potentially reducing the dependence on donor hearts in future

Statistic 26

Psychological support is crucial for transplant patients, with about 40% experiencing anxiety or depression post-surgery

Statistic 27

The 2022 update to heart transplant guidelines emphasizes the importance of early detection and management of rejection episodes to improve long-term survival

Statistic 28

The use of tolerance-inducing protocols is being investigated to reduce the need for lifelong immunosuppression after heart transplantation

Statistic 29

Organ transplant registries and databases are crucial for tracking outcomes, improving practices, and guiding policy changes worldwide

Statistic 30

Novel imaging techniques like 3D echocardiography and MRI are increasingly used to assess transplant heart function and rejection

Statistic 31

Heart transplant centers report an average 5-year survival rate of around 70-75%, reflecting improvements in surgical techniques and post-op care

Statistic 32

The number of combined heart-liver transplants is rare but increasing, often necessary for patients with multi-organ failure

Statistic 33

Heart transplant recipients are required to undergo lifelong follow-up care, including frequent blood tests and biopsies to monitor rejection

Statistic 34

Heart transplant rejection episodes are most common within the first year after surgery, with vigilant monitoring reducing severe outcomes

Statistic 35

The median wait time for a heart transplant in the U.S. is approximately 4-6 months

Statistic 36

Living donor heart transplants are extremely rare; most transplants use deceased donor hearts

Statistic 37

The donor heart procurement process typically occurs within 4-6 hours from the time of donor death

Statistic 38

The percentage of hospitals performing heart transplants in the U.S. has slightly increased over the past decade, now over 200 centers

Statistic 39

Organ preservation time for a donor heart is generally limited to about 4-6 hours, necessitating rapid transplantation procedures

Statistic 40

Anaerobic preservation techniques are being developed to extend the viability of donor hearts beyond 6 hours

Statistic 41

About 35% of heart transplant recipients have a history of previous cardiac surgeries, which can complicate the transplant process

Statistic 42

Heart transplant organ allocation policies prioritize candidates based on urgency, likelihood of success, and absence of contraindications

Statistic 43

Heart transplant surgery typically lasts about 4-6 hours, depending on complexity, patient condition, and surgical team experience

Statistic 44

As of 2023, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) manages the organ matching process and maintains the transplant database in the U.S.

Statistic 45

The Federal government provides funding and guidelines to support heart transplantation programs across the U.S., aiming to increase access and improve outcomes

Statistic 46

The chance of finding a compatible donor within the same geographic region influences wait times and outcomes in the transplant process

Statistic 47

The average age of heart transplant recipients is approximately 54 years old

Statistic 48

About 75% of heart transplant recipients are male

Statistic 49

The majority of organ donors (roughly 70%) are male, influencing available donor options

Statistic 50

The percentage of male recipients is higher than females, largely due to higher rates of cardiovascular disease among men

Statistic 51

Pediatric heart transplants constitute about 10% of all heart transplant procedures, with a focus on congenital heart disease

Slide 1 of 51
Share:FacebookLinkedIn
Sources

Our Reports have been cited by:

Trust Badges - Publications that have cited our reports

Key Highlights

  • Over 2,600 heart transplants are performed annually in the United States
  • The median wait time for a heart transplant in the U.S. is approximately 4-6 months
  • The survival rate one year after heart transplant is approximately 90%
  • The five-year survival rate post-heart transplant is around 75%
  • The total number of people living with a transplanted heart in the U.S. exceeds 40,000
  • The average age of heart transplant recipients is approximately 54 years old
  • About 75% of heart transplant recipients are male
  • The primary causes leading to heart failure leading to transplantation include coronary artery disease (around 65%) and cardiomyopathy (about 25%)
  • The most common complication post-heart transplant is rejection, occurring in about 30% of patients within the first year
  • Heart transplants account for roughly 10-15% of all solid organ transplants annually
  • The cost of a heart transplant in the U.S. can exceed $1 million, including preoperative and postoperative care
  • Living donor heart transplants are extremely rare; most transplants use deceased donor hearts
  • The donor heart procurement process typically occurs within 4-6 hours from the time of donor death

Heart transplants, a beacon of hope for thousands battling advanced heart failure in the U.S. with over 2,600 procedures annually, boast impressive one- and five-year survival rates of approximately 90% and 75% respectively, yet face persistent challenges including long wait times, donor shortages, and ongoing risks of rejection and infection.

Donor and transplantation logistics

  • The use of donor hearts from donors older than 55 years is increasing, with about 25% of transplants involving older donors

Donor and transplantation logistics Interpretation

The rising reliance on hearts from donors over 55—now constituting a quarter of transplants—signals both an innovative flexibility in matching supply with demand and a pragmatic shift in transplant paradigms, balancing age with the promise of renewed life.

Medical statistics and outcomes

  • Over 2,600 heart transplants are performed annually in the United States
  • The survival rate one year after heart transplant is approximately 90%
  • The five-year survival rate post-heart transplant is around 75%
  • The total number of people living with a transplanted heart in the U.S. exceeds 40,000
  • The primary causes leading to heart failure leading to transplantation include coronary artery disease (around 65%) and cardiomyopathy (about 25%)
  • The most common complication post-heart transplant is rejection, occurring in about 30% of patients within the first year
  • Heart transplants account for roughly 10-15% of all solid organ transplants annually
  • The cost of a heart transplant in the U.S. can exceed $1 million, including preoperative and postoperative care
  • The average length of stay in the hospital after a heart transplant is approximately 2 to 3 weeks
  • The use of mechanical circulatory support devices, such as LVADs, has increased by over 30% in transplant candidates over recent years
  • Around 60% of heart transplant recipients are on immunosuppressive therapy for life to prevent rejection
  • The survival rate differs by age, with patients under 18 having approximately a 95% survival at 1 year
  • The likelihood of a successful heart transplant significantly depends on the donor-recipient match including size and immunological compatibility
  • Post-transplant infection that could lead to rejection or other complications affects approximately 20-30% of recipients within the first year
  • The annual number of heart transplants worldwide is estimated to be around 8,000 to 9,000
  • The demand for heart transplants far exceeds supply, with waiting lists often exceeding 3,000 patients in the U.S. alone
  • The risk of rejection has decreased over the years due to advances in immunosuppressive therapy, improving survival rates
  • Heart transplant recipients have a 10-20 fold increased risk of developing certain cancers due to long-term immunosuppression
  • Heart transplant recipients are at risk for developing post-operative arrhythmias, which occur in approximately 10-15% of cases
  • The most common immunosuppressive drugs used post-transplant include tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and corticosteroids
  • The Australian and European countries perform fewer transplants per capita compared to the United States but with similar success rates
  • Experienced transplant centers have a lower rate of post-transplant complications and better survival outcomes, according to multiple studies
  • The first successful human heart transplant was performed by Dr. Christiaan Barnard in 1967 in South Africa
  • Advances in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine aim to develop bioartificial hearts, potentially reducing the dependence on donor hearts in future
  • Psychological support is crucial for transplant patients, with about 40% experiencing anxiety or depression post-surgery
  • The 2022 update to heart transplant guidelines emphasizes the importance of early detection and management of rejection episodes to improve long-term survival
  • The use of tolerance-inducing protocols is being investigated to reduce the need for lifelong immunosuppression after heart transplantation
  • Organ transplant registries and databases are crucial for tracking outcomes, improving practices, and guiding policy changes worldwide
  • Novel imaging techniques like 3D echocardiography and MRI are increasingly used to assess transplant heart function and rejection
  • Heart transplant centers report an average 5-year survival rate of around 70-75%, reflecting improvements in surgical techniques and post-op care
  • The number of combined heart-liver transplants is rare but increasing, often necessary for patients with multi-organ failure
  • Heart transplant recipients are required to undergo lifelong follow-up care, including frequent blood tests and biopsies to monitor rejection
  • Heart transplant rejection episodes are most common within the first year after surgery, with vigilant monitoring reducing severe outcomes

Medical statistics and outcomes Interpretation

Despite performing over 2,600 heart transplants annually in the U.S. with a commendable five-year survival rate of around 75%, the glaring shortage of donor hearts—exceeding 3,000 patients on waiting lists—reminds us that even the most advanced medical marvels are still battling the relentless scarcity of life-saving organs.

Operational and procedural aspects

  • The median wait time for a heart transplant in the U.S. is approximately 4-6 months
  • Living donor heart transplants are extremely rare; most transplants use deceased donor hearts
  • The donor heart procurement process typically occurs within 4-6 hours from the time of donor death
  • The percentage of hospitals performing heart transplants in the U.S. has slightly increased over the past decade, now over 200 centers
  • Organ preservation time for a donor heart is generally limited to about 4-6 hours, necessitating rapid transplantation procedures
  • Anaerobic preservation techniques are being developed to extend the viability of donor hearts beyond 6 hours
  • About 35% of heart transplant recipients have a history of previous cardiac surgeries, which can complicate the transplant process
  • Heart transplant organ allocation policies prioritize candidates based on urgency, likelihood of success, and absence of contraindications
  • Heart transplant surgery typically lasts about 4-6 hours, depending on complexity, patient condition, and surgical team experience
  • As of 2023, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) manages the organ matching process and maintains the transplant database in the U.S.
  • The Federal government provides funding and guidelines to support heart transplantation programs across the U.S., aiming to increase access and improve outcomes
  • The chance of finding a compatible donor within the same geographic region influences wait times and outcomes in the transplant process

Operational and procedural aspects Interpretation

Despite the increasing number of U.S. transplant centers and technological advancements like anaerobic preservation, patients still face a race against time and geography—typically waiting 4-6 months for a suitable, promptly procured donor heart—highlighting both the remarkable coordination and persistent urgency that underpin heart transplantation.

Patient demographics and characteristics

  • The average age of heart transplant recipients is approximately 54 years old
  • About 75% of heart transplant recipients are male
  • The majority of organ donors (roughly 70%) are male, influencing available donor options
  • The percentage of male recipients is higher than females, largely due to higher rates of cardiovascular disease among men
  • Pediatric heart transplants constitute about 10% of all heart transplant procedures, with a focus on congenital heart disease

Patient demographics and characteristics Interpretation

Given that 75% of heart transplant recipients and 70% of donors are male, with men experiencing higher cardiovascular disease rates, it's clear that the heart transplant landscape is subtly shaped by gender disparities—yet, children battling congenital conditions remind us that hope beats beyond statistics.

Sources & References