Similar Mortality and Morbidity of Orthotopic Heart Transplantation for Patients 70 Years of Age and Older Compared With Younger Patients.

•The upper age limit of heart transplantation remains controversial.•The goal of this study was to investigate the mortality and morbidity of orthotopic heart transplantation (HT) for recipients ≥70 years of age in comparison with recipients <70 years old.•Of 704 adults who underwent HT from December 1988 to June 2012 at our institution, 45 were ≥70 years old (older group) and 659 were <70 years old (younger group).•HT recipients ≥70 years old had similar 1-, 5-, and 10-year survival rates compared with younger recipients. Both patient groups had similar intra- and postoperative blood utilization and similar frequencies of many postoperative complications.•Thus, older and younger patients had similar morbidity and mortality rates after HT.•Carefully selected older patients (≥70 y) can safely undergo HT and should not be excluded from HT consideration based solely on age.