Cheney Transplant at 71 Highlights Threat to Young Patients
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Medical advances have made it increasingly common for older Americans such as Dick Cheney to receive heart transplants, extending their lives. The shift may make it more difficult for younger patients as aging Baby Boomers compete for available organs, top cardiologists say.
The former vice president received a new heart at the age of 71 on March 24 after being on the list for more than 20 months. Last year, 2,322 heart transplants were performed, including 332 among people older than 65, or about 15 percent, said Joel Newman, a spokesman for the United Network for Organ Sharing, or UNOS, which matches patients to organs.