Increased Deceased Organ Donation Rates Among Racial and Ethnic Minorities: Not Exactly. A UNOS/NHSBT UK Donor Data Analysis Over the Last Five Years
1Transplant and Vascular Access Surgery, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom, 2Liver Unit, King's College, London, United Kingdom, 3Transplant and Vascular Access Surgery, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, United Kingdom, 4Transplant Surgery, University Of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada, 5Visceral Surgery, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañon, Madrid, Spain
Meeting: 2021 American Transplant Congress
Abstract number: 1281
Topic: Clinical Science » Organ Inclusive » Non-Organ Specific: Disparities to Outcome and Access to Healthcare
Session Information
Session Name: Non-Organ Specific: Disparities to Outcome and Access to Healthcare
Session Type: Poster Abstract
Session Date & Time: None. Available on demand.
Location: Virtual
*Purpose: The recent reports suggest that organ donation from minority population have been increasing. The comparative organ donation data from the minority population reported to UNOS/NHSBT over the last five years was data mined.
*Methods: Deceased Organ donation figures from 2014/15-2019/20 were analysed. The percentage trends and organ donation probabilities of all donor groups were calculated.
*Results: Total numbers of total deceased organ-donations have increased in USA (N=9079 in 2015, N=11870 in 2019) and UK ( N=1298 in 2015, N=1454 in 2019). There has been an increase in donations from minorities ( USA N=3113 in 2015, N=4087 in 2019; UK N=80 in 2015; N=121 in 2019). In USA, % share of organ donation from minorities has been nearly constant at approx. 33-34% , in UK the % share has marginally improved from 6.2 % in 2015 to 7.3% in 2019.
Despite the increase in total numbers, the Delta-Δ change in organ-donation from minorities compared to total organ-donation volume has shown a negative trend compared to the previous years (USA 0.72% in 2015, –0.21%in 2019; UK 0.40% in 2015; 0.32% in 2019).
Population and viewpoints of minority-populations are different in both countries, yet religious/cultural beliefs are the commonest reasons for a family declining donation.
*Conclusions: Despite a marginal increase in donation numbers, the overall organ-donation from the minority-population is still low and has not kept in pace with total-donation volumes. The minority population needs more administration initiatives and education to improve organ donation.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Sharma H, Pradeep A, Ditchfield A, Abraham M, Lominchar P, Mehra S, Skaro A. Increased Deceased Organ Donation Rates Among Racial and Ethnic Minorities: Not Exactly. A UNOS/NHSBT UK Donor Data Analysis Over the Last Five Years [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2021; 21 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/increased-deceased-organ-donation-rates-among-racial-and-ethnic-minorities-not-exactly-a-unos-nhsbt-uk-donor-data-analysis-over-the-last-five-years/. Accessed June 6, 2025.« Back to 2021 American Transplant Congress