LUNG TRANSPLANTATION IN THE UNITED STATES: COMPARISON OF SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS BETWEEN 2001 AND 2021

ABSTRACT

SESSION TITLE Lung Transplantation New Issues in 2022 SESSION TYPE Rapid Fire Original Inv PRESENTED ON 10/19/2022 1115 am - 1215 pm PURPOSE: This population-based study describes the changing demographic trends of Lung Transplants (LT) across the United States (U.S.) over the last two decades (2001 vs 2021). METHODS: We utilized the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) registry to gather data on LT recipients across the U.S. for the year 2001 and 2021. Total yearly lung transplant numbers were recorded from 1988 to 2021. The recipients were categorized into subgroups based on age (<1, 1-5, 6-10, 11-17, 18-49, 50-64 and >65 years), race (Whites, Blacks, Hispanic/Latino, Asians, and Others) and most common diagnosis, and data was tabulated to compare for the years 2001 and 2021. RESULTS: From 1988 to 2021, 46,109 LTs were performed in the U.S. The yearly LT recipients increased from 1,059 in 2001 to 2,524 in 2021. The most common reason for LT was Emphysema/COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) in 2001 (n=464) and IPF (Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis) in 2021 (n=899). In both 2001 and 2021, most LT recipients were in the age group 50-64 years (45.8% vs 58.1%) but the proportion of patients > 65 years receiving LT increased noticeably from 3.4% in 2001 to 36.9% 2021. Most LT recipients in both 2001 vs 2021, had “O” blood group (~ 45%). White patients comprised the majority of those registered for and those who underwent LT in both 2001 (n=940;88.80%) and 2021 (n=1,778;70.40%), although the relative percentage reduced by 18.40%. The relative percentages for Blacks, Asians, Hispanics receiving LTs increased from 2001 to 2021 by 2%, 3.3% and 11.8% respectively. In both 2001 and 2021, the states where maximum LTs were performed included– California (10.8% vs 12.6%), Pennsylvania (9.6% vs 9.3%) and Texas (7.3% vs 10.7%) while the states with the least LTs included– Connecticut, Mississippi, Oregon. CONCLUSIONS: There has been a general uptrend in the total number of LTs year-on-year, and the likely drop in LT recipients in 2020 and 2021 was due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The most common diagnosis for transplant changed from Emphysema/COPD in 2001 to IPF in 2021. There are appreciable racial and geographical disparities in receiving LTs in the United States but there are encouraging improvements in 2021 compared to 2001. There is an increasing trend of LTs in elderly patients (> 65 years), likely due to increased supportive care and improved life expectancy. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Changes in socio-demographic trends in lung transplant recipients help us understand existing disparities and access to advanced lung disease centers so that we can better address these with equitable healthcare delivery tailored to changing transplant trends. DISCLOSURES No relevant relationships by FNU Amisha No relevant relationships by Perminder Gulani No relevant relationships by Manuel Hache Marliere No relevant relationships by paras malik No relevant relationships by Divya Reddy