Survival rates for transplant recipients continue to improve across the United States, according to a 3000-page report released by the United Network for Organ Sharing and the Department of Health and Human Services.
The 1997 Report of Center Specific Graft and Patient Survival Rates, which analyzes more than 97,000 transplants, shows substantial increases in one-year patient and graft survival rates for almost all solid organs. According to UNOS, one-year patient survival rates are at the highest ever, from 62% for heart-lung recipients to 94% for kidney recipients. The report also found that patients who survive the first year have excellent prospects for long-term survival. Three-year survival outcomes ranged from 76% for lung recipients, to 81% for heart-lung recipients, to more than 90% for kidney, liver, heart, and pancreas recipients.
The triannual report was also published in 1991 and 1994. However, for the first time, the 1997 report analyzes survival rates separately for patients transplanted in two eras: January 1988 to April 1992 and May 1992 to April 1994. One-year survival rates were substantially increased in the more recently transplanted patients.
In addition to reporting transplant outcomes for each program, the report provides the expected survival rate for each center. "This reference allows the patient to compare each center against the overall national survival rate for transplants that involved the same patient/donor mix as that observed at that center during the same period," said UNOS President, Lawrence G. Hunsicker, MD.
UNOS has published the entire report online in a searchable format.
For Your Information:
UNOS Press Release
http://www.unos.org/Newsroom/breaknews/survival.htmThe Report
www.unos.org/Data/survival_main.htm
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