Higher model for end-stage liver disease excluding international normalized ratio scores predict worse kidney graft outcomes in simultaneous heart-kidney transplantation

Figure 2 Nonlinear association between model for end-stage liver disease excluding international normalized ratio and risk of 1-year kidney graft failure. Restricted cubic spline demonstrating the association between model for end-stage liver disease excluding international normalized ratio (MELD-XI) and the hazard of 1-year kidney graft failure. The solid line represents the estimated hazard ratio across the range of MELD-XI values, with the reference value centered at approximately MELD-XI = 20. The dashed lines indicate 95%CI. Tick marks along the x-axis represent the distribution of MELD-XI values. A statistically significant nonlinear association was observed (P = 0.032), with relatively flat risk at lower MELD-XI values and progressively increasing risk at higher values. MELD-XI: Model for end-stage liver disease excluding international normalized ratio.