A recent study (AJ Kwong et al Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2019; 17: 2347-55) quantifies the potential advantage of moving to receive a liver transplant. This had been discussed in 2016 blog post as well (Need Liver, Will Travel)
During the study period (2004-2016), there were 104,914 waitlist registrations.
Key findings:
- 60.985 patients received a liver transplant during the study period
- 2930 (2.8%) pursued listing at a distant center
- Distant listing was associated with a 22% reductinon in the risk of death within 1 year
My take: this study highlights socioeconomic disparity in acquiring a liver transplant along with potential geographic disparities.
Related article:
“Transplantation Traffic –Geography as Destiny for Transplant Candidates” NEJM 2014; 271: 2450-52. Describes ongoing geographic inequality in organ distribution and obstacles to improving allocation.
Related blog posts:
- Picking winners and losers with liver transplantation allocation
- Pediatric Liver Transplantation: Past Time to Split
- More on Time to Split (2018)
- Pediatric Livers Bypassing Needy Children
- More Acceptance (of livers), Better Outcomes
- Should Younger Transplant Patients Receive Better Organs? | gutsandgrowth
Botanical Garden,, Chicago
