OPTN/SRTR 2018 Annual Data Report: Lung.

Area of Science:

• Medicine
• Transplantation
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• The US lung allocation policy aims to prioritize candidates with the highest risk of mortality for lung transplantation.
• Lung transplantation numbers have risen significantly, with 2562 procedures in 2018, a 31% increase over five years.
• Despite increased organ availability and transplants, a substantial number of candidates remain on the waiting list.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the outcomes of lung transplantation in 2018, focusing on candidate access and mortality.
• To examine the trends in lung transplant waiting lists, including adult and pediatric populations.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of current lung allocation policies in addressing candidate needs.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of national lung transplant data from 2018.
• Review of candidate waiting list statistics, including additions, removals, and reasons for removal.
• Examination of transplant numbers by recipient age group, particularly for pediatric recipients (0-11 years).

Main Results:

• In 2018, 2562 lung transplants were performed, with a notable increase in procedures and donor availability.
• Despite increased transplants, 365 adult candidates died or became too ill for transplant.
• Fifteen lung transplants were performed in children aged 0-11 years; 59.3% of child candidates were removed from the waiting list due to undergoing transplant, while 22.2% died.

Conclusions:

• While lung transplant activity has increased, critical challenges remain in timely access for high-risk candidates.
• The data highlights the ongoing need to balance organ allocation with patient mortality risk.
• Further evaluation of lung allocation policies is warranted to improve outcomes for all candidates, especially pediatric populations.