OPTN/SRTR 2022 Annual Data Report: Lung.

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Transplant Surgery
• Public Health

Background:

• The annual number of lung transplants in the U.S. has increased for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.
• 2022 marked the last full calendar year utilizing the Lung Allocation Score (LAS) for organ allocation.
• A significant policy shift occurred in March 2023 with the introduction of the Composite Allocation Score (CAS).

Purpose of the Study:

• To report on lung transplant activity in the United States for the year 2022.
• To analyze trends in lung transplant rates, waiting list times, and survival outcomes.
• To highlight demographic variations in lung transplant access and outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of national lung transplant data from 2022.
• Review of lung transplant candidate waiting list metrics.
• Examination of pre- and post-transplant mortality and survival rates.

Main Results:

• Lung transplant numbers increased in 2022 compared to previous pandemic years.
• Transplant rates have shown a decade-long increase, with notable demographic disparities.
• Over 50% of candidates received a transplant within 3 months, and nearly 75% within a year.
• Pretransplant mortality remained stable at approximately 13% within one year of listing.
• Posttransplant survival rates were stable but showed variability across different patient groups.

Conclusions:

• The year 2022 saw a resurgence in lung transplant volume.
• While overall transplant rates and survival are stable, significant disparities persist among various patient demographics.
• The transition from LAS to CAS may influence future transplant allocation and outcomes.