MHA Press Room

Organ donation rates and transplants grew significantly in 2006

Organ donation and transplantation rates grew significantly last year, continuing a recent trend of annual increases, reports the Health Resources & Services Administration. Nearly 29,000 transplant operations were performed, and the number of deceased donors topped 8,000 in 2006, according to preliminary data announced April 16 by HRSA. The figures represent record high numbers in both categories.

HRSA said 28,923 organ transplant operations were performed nationwide last year, up from 28,112 in 2005. HRSA also reported that the number of deceased donors in 2006 increased 5.6% over the previous year.

Kidney transplants were the most common procedure, with a record 17,084 performed last year. In addition, 6,650 liver transplants were performed in 2006 – also a record. The preliminary data were complied for HRSA by the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, which is operated by the United Network for Organ Sharing.

[ via AHA News Now ]

Study identifies barriers to African-American kidney donation

A study in the June Journal of the National Medical Association identifies pre-existing medical conditions, financial concerns and a reluctance to ask family and friends to donate a kidney as key barriers to live kidney donations among African Americans. Other barriers identified by the study include a distrust of the medical community, fear of surgical procedures and lack of awareness of living donor transplantation programs.

The findings are based on focus groups conducted with 18 transplant professionals in South Carolina, where African Americans make up about 68% of the waiting list for kidney transplants but only one-third of the living donors. The authors recommend further research to confirm these perceptions and determine the best practices to increase the pool of African-American living donors. The study was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

[ via AHA News ]