Risk Factors for New-Onset Diabetes Mellitus in Adult Liver Transplant Recipients, an Analysis of the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network/United Network for Organ Sharing Database

Objective. To analyze the risk factors for new-onset diabetes mellitus (NODM) in liver transplant recipients using the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network/United Network for Organ Sharing database. Methods. Among 20,172 primary liver recipients (age >= 18 years) transplanted between July 2004 and December 2008 in Organ Procurement and Transplant Network/United Network for Organ Sharing databases, 15,463 recipients without pretransplant diabetes were identified. Risk factors for NODM were examined using multivariate Cox regression analysis. Results. NODM was reported in 26.4% of recipients (median follow-up, 685 days). Independent predictors of NODM development included recipient age (>= 50 vs. <50 years, hazard ratio [HR] = 1.241), African American race (HR = 1.147), body mass index (>= 25 vs. <25, HR=1.186), hepatitis C (HR=1.155), recipient cirrhosis history (HR=1.107), donor age (>= 60 vs. <60 year, HR=1.152), diabetic donor (HR=1.151), tacrolimus (tacrolimus vs. cyclosporine, HR=1.236), and steroid at discharge (HR=1.594). Living donor transplant (HR=0.628) and induction therapy (HR=0.816) were associated with a decreased risk of NODM. Conclusion. The incidence of NODM was 26.4% in liver recipients with a median follow-up time of 685 days. Identified risk factors for NODM in liver transplantation were similar to that in kidney transplantation. Some of the identified factors are potentially modifiable, including obesity and the choice of immunosuppressive regimens.