Lung transplantation outcomes in patients from socioeconomically distressed communities.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated racial and gender disparities in lung allocation, but contemporary data regarding socioeconomic disparities in post-transplant outcomes are lacking. We evaluated the impact of a composite socioeconomic disadvantage index on post-transplant outcomes. METHODS: The Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients identified 27,763 adult patients undergoing isolated primary lung transplantation between 2005 and 2020. Zip code-level socioeconomic distress was characterized using the Distressed Communities Index (DCI: 0-no distress, 100-severe distress) based on education level, poverty, unemployment, housing vacancies, median income, and business growth, and patients were stratified into high (DCI ≥60) or low (DCI <60) distressed groups. RESULTS: Recipients from high-distress communities (n = 8006, 28.8%) were younger (59years [interquartile range {IQR} 50-64] vs 61years [IQR 52-66]), less often white (73 vs 85%), less likely to have a college degree (45 vs 59%), and more likely to have public insurance (57 vs 49%, all p < 0.001) compared to those from low-distress communities. Additionally, high-distress recipients were more likely to have group A diagnoses (32 vs 27%) and undergo bilateral lung transplants (72.4 vs 69.3%, all p < 0.001). Post-transplant survival at 5years was 55.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 54.4-56.9) in high-distress recipients and 58.2% (95% CI: 57.4-58.9) in low-distress recipients (p = 0.003). After adjustment, high distress level was independently associated with an increased risk of 5-year mortality (hazard ratio:1.09, 95% CI:1.04-1.15). CONCLUSIONS: Recipients from distressed communities are at increased mortality risk following lung transplantation. Efforts should be focused on increased resource allocation and further study to better understand factors which may mitigate this disparity.

Simultaneous Lung-Kidney Transplantation in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Simultaneous lung-kidney transplantation is rarely performed. Contemporary national practice trends and outcomes are unclear. METHODS: From the United Network for Organ Sharing database, we identified 108 lung-kidney transplant recipients (2005-2022). They were compared with isolated lung recipients with pretransplantation dialysis or estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≤30 mL/min per 1.73 m2 (n = 372) and isolated non-dialysis-dependent lung recipients with 30 < eGFR < 50 mL/min per 1.73 m2 (n = 1416), respectively. Lung-kidney recipients were also compared with recipients of the contralateral kidney from the same donors (n = 90). RESULTS: Lung-kidney transplantation was performed by 36 centers, with increasing annual volume (1 in 2005, 16 in 2022; P < .01). Forty percent (44/108) of lung-kidney recipients received pretransplantation dialysis, and of those without pretransplantation dialysis, median eGFR was 30.7 mL/min per 1.73 m2. Lung-kidney recipients had improved survival compared with isolated lung recipients with eGFR ≤30 mL/min per 1.73 m2 or pretransplantation dialysis (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.38-0.92). However, no survival benefit was observed when lung-kidney recipients were compared with isolated lung recipients with 30 < eGFR < 50 mL/min per 1.73 m2 and no pretransplantation dialysis (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.55-1.41). Compared with isolated kidney recipients using the contralateral kidney from the same donors, lung-kidney recipients had a higher risk of kidney allograft loss (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.27; 95% CI, 1.22-8.78), a difference largely accounted for by patient death with a functioning kidney allograft. CONCLUSIONS: Recipients of lung-kidney transplants had improved survival compared with isolated lung recipients with eGFR ≤30 mL/min per 1.73 m2 or pretransplantation dialysis. However, lung-kidney recipients had a higher rate of kidney allograft loss than recipients of the contralateral kidney allograft from the same donors.