ATC Abstracts

American Transplant Congress abstracts

  • Home
  • Meetings Archive
    • 2022 American Transplant Congress
    • 2021 American Transplant Congress
    • 2020 American Transplant Congress
    • 2019 American Transplant Congress
    • 2018 American Transplant Congress
    • 2017 American Transplant Congress
    • 2016 American Transplant Congress
    • 2015 American Transplant Congress
    • 2013 American Transplant Congress
  • Keyword Index
  • Resources
    • 2021 Resources
    • 2016 Resources
      • 2016 Welcome Letter
      • ATC 2016 Program Planning Committees
      • ASTS Council 2015-2016
      • AST Board of Directors 2015-2016
    • 2015 Resources
      • 2015 Welcome Letter
      • ATC 2015 Program Planning Committees
      • ASTS Council 2014-2015
      • AST Board of Directors 2014-2015
      • 2015 Conference Schedule
  • Search

Disparities in Pediatric Liver Transplant Waitlist Access

S. C. Kim1, K. Ross1, E. Hsu2, R. Patzer1, R. J. Lynch1

1Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 2University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Meeting: 2019 American Transplant Congress

Abstract number: 495

Keywords: Allocation, Liver, Pediatric, Waiting lists

Session Information

Session Name: Concurrent Session: Liver: Pediatrics

Session Type: Concurrent Session

Date: Tuesday, June 4, 2019

Session Time: 2:30pm-4:00pm

 Presentation Time: 2:42pm-2:54pm

Location: Room 210

*Purpose: While disparities in access to liver transplant are well documented among adults, differences in access to the waitlist for children in remote or underserved communities remains incompletely understood.

*Methods: Centers for Disease Control county-level records of pediatric liver disease deaths from 2002-2016 were compared with SRTR records of waitlist additions. Sociodemographic vulnerability was assessed by county Community Health Score (CHS), and proximity to care approximated by the presence of a high volume (>100/study period) liver transplant center in-state.

*Results: From 2002-2016, 9112 patients were listed and 2138 children died of liver disease. Children in underserved (CHS 30-40) counties had observed death rates 30% higher than those in more fortunate (CHS 0-10) areas (2.23 vs. 1.75 deaths per million person-years, p < 0.001), and were 27% less likely to be waitlisted than CHS 0-10 counterparts (p < 0.001, Figure 1). The presence of at least one high-volume transplant center in-state corresponded with greater waitlist access (Figure 2). Outcomes on the waitlist and at 1 and 3 years post-transplant did not differ by county CHS or presence of a high-volume in-state center.

*Conclusions: Children with liver disease in underprivileged areas have lesser access to the liver transplant waitlist and a higher death rate from liver disease. Greater distance to a transplant center is associated with lesser waitlist access. Further research is necessary to identify means by which to reduce disparities in waitlisting and facilitate receipt of care for patients in remote and underserved communities.

 border=

 border=

  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Kim SC, Ross K, Hsu E, Patzer R, Lynch RJ. Disparities in Pediatric Liver Transplant Waitlist Access [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2019; 19 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/disparities-in-pediatric-liver-transplant-waitlist-access/. Accessed May 11, 2025.

« Back to 2019 American Transplant Congress

Visit Our Partner Sites

American Transplant Congress (ATC)

Visit the official site for the American Transplant Congress »

American Journal of Transplantation

The official publication for the American Society of Transplantation (AST) and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) »

American Society of Transplantation (AST)

An organization of more than 3000 professionals dedicated to advancing the field of transplantation. »

American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS)

The society represents approximately 1,800 professionals dedicated to excellence in transplantation surgery. »

Copyright © 2013-2025 by American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Cookie Preferences