*Purpose: Recent changes in lung allocation policy seek to improve geographic disparities in access. This study aims to understand geographic variation in donor availability and utilization and to understand state-level patterns in the supply and demand of lung donors.

*Methods: Lung donor, candidate, and recipient data was obtained from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. State-level population data was obtained from the 2010 census. Donors were grouped into 3 categories: 1) eligible but not utilized (authorization not requested, authorization not obtained, organ not recovered), 2) recovered but not transplanted, or 3) transplanted. Candidate and recipient counts were tabulated. Numbers were converted to rates per 100,000 population. Heat maps were created using ArcGIS 10.8 and data was grouped by quintile.

*Results: From 2005-2019, 28,297 transplants occurred (transplanted donors, recipients), 141,516 eligible but not utilized donors, 16,182 donors not transplanted, and 8,804 candidates who did not receive a transplant. Geographic trends emerged and variation occurred among states. The Northwest had the fewest eligible but not utilized donors while the Midwest had the highest concentration of transplant recipients. States differed in the rates of donors transplanted with some states experiencing lower rates of donors transplanted compared to donors recovered and not transplanted. Twenty two states had comparatively more recipients than donors (higher quintile of transplant recipients than quintile of donors transplanted per 100,000 population).

*Conclusions: States vary in donor procurement and utilization practices as well as across transplant candidate and recipient need. Further inquiry will be valuable to understand contributions to variation as targets to reduce geographic disparity in lung transplant. Funding: NIH R01HL153175

« Back to 2022 American Transplant Congress