Substance Use-Associated Mortality among Heart Donors after the COVID-19 National Emergency Increased but Did Not Affect Peri-Transplant Outcomes.

Our findings confirm that COVID-19 had a major impact on mental health and psychosocial life with an associated increase in illicit substance use and fatal intoxication rates in heart transplant donors. These changes did not alter peri-operative mortality following heart transplantation. Future studies are needed to ensure that long-term outcomes remain unaffected.