Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41629121›Full record

ArticleOpen heart2026

Bridging machine learning and clinical practice: a multicentre nomogram for 90-day graft failure risk stratification in heart transplantation.

Wai Yen Yim, Yating Li, Jincheng Hou, Yuqi Chen, Tixiusi Xiong, Chenghao Li, Junlin Lai, Yongbu Peng, Bingchuan Geng, Yunlong Wu and 3 more

Abstract readMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in Open heart, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Wai Yen Yim *Cardiovascular Surgery, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji Medical College, Union Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6187-6626
Yating Li *Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Jincheng Hou *Cardiovascular Surgery, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji Medical College, Union Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Yuqi ChenCardiovascular Surgery, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji Medical College, Union Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Tixiusi XiongCardiovascular Surgery, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji Medical College, Union Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Chenghao LiCardiovascular Surgery, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji Medical College, Union Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Junlin LaiCardiovascular Surgery, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji Medical College, Union Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Yongbu PengCardiovascular Surgery, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji Medical College, Union Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Bingchuan GengCardiovascular Surgery, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji Medical College, Union Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Yunlong WuCardiovascular Surgery, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji Medical College, Union Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Fuqiang TongCardiovascular Surgery, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji Medical College, Union Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei, China 1986XH0694@hust.edu.cn wyx135791ab@hust.edu.cn u201710306@hust.edu.cn.
Yixuan WangCardiovascular Surgery, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji Medical College, Union Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei, China 1986XH0694@hust.edu.cn wyx135791ab@hust.edu.cn u201710306@hust.edu.cn.
Nianguo DongCardiovascular Surgery, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji Medical College, Union Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei, China 1986XH0694@hust.edu.cn wyx135791ab@hust.edu.cn u201710306@hust.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1558-4523

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEarly graft failure within 90 postoperative days is the leading cause of mortality after heart transplantation. Existing risk scores, based on linear regression, often struggle to capture the complex, multifactorial biological interactions necessary for personalised donor-recipient matching. This study utilised explainable machine learning (ML) to identify robust predictors of 90-day graft failure and developed a clinically interpretable, ML-informed nomogram designed specifically for cross-population generalisability.

methodsUsing the UNOS registry (2008-2020; n=25 200), XGBoost/Random Forest models identified 90-day graft failure predictors from 32 donor-recipient variables. Explainable AI (SHapley Additive exPlanations) analysis revealed key predictors and their non-linear interactions, which were translated into a clinically applicable nomogram. External validation was performed on a large, single-centre Chinese cohort (Wuhan Union Hospital ; 2018-2023; n=563), assessing performance via area under the curve (AUC), calibration and decision curve analysis (DCA).

findingsThe final model incorporated eight predictors: recipient factors (prior cardiac surgery, age, bilirubin, body mass index (BMI)), donor factors (age, gender, BMI) and cold ischaemia time. The XGBoost-derived nomogram demonstrated consistent discrimination (AUC 0.67, 95% CI 0.64 to 0.70) and calibration. Patients stratified into the high-risk group (top quantile by nomogram score) had a 2.4-fold increased hazard of graft failure (HR 2.42, 95% CI 2.11 to 2.78). DCA confirmed the model's clinical utility across a wide range of risk thresholds (0.0-0.4). External validation in the Chinese cohort affirmed its generalisability (AUC 0.67).

conclusionThis study introduces an ML-informed nomogram for 90-day graft failure, validated across USA and Chinese populations. By translating ML insights into a clinically interpretable tool using routinely available pretransplant variables, it bridges a key translational gap in transplant risk prediction. This tool can aid in optimising donor-recipient matching and personalising post-transplant management, with the potential to help address geographic disparities in heart transplant outcomes.

Indexed as

Graft RejectionHeart FailureHeart TransplantationMachine LearningNomogramsAdultBoosting Machine Learning AlgorithmsChinaFemaleGraft SurvivalHumansMaleMiddle AgedPredictive Learning ModelsRegistriesRetrospective StudiesHEART FAILUREHeart TransplantationTranslational Medical Research

Identifiers

PMID41629121
PMCPMC12878189

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.