Is there racial disparity in outcomes after solid organ transplantation?
BACKGROUND
We sought to determine if disparities in survival and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) occurred after solid organ transplantation at our institution.


METHODS
Data were extracted from a database including information regarding transplants that took place from 1990 to 2002. The HRQOL was assessed in patients by using the Karnofsky functional performance (FP) index and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire.


RESULTS
Data were collected on recipients of liver (n = 413), heart (n = 299), kidney (n = 892), and lung (n = 156). Blacks represented a minority of recipients: liver 7%, heart 8%, kidney 23%, and lung 6%. There were no statistically significant differences in patient survival between blacks and whites. Graft survival differed in kidney only with a 5-year survival: 72% for blacks versus 79% for whites (P <0.001). The FP and HRQOL improved (P <0.05) after transplantation in both groups. There were no differences on measures of the FP or HRQOL.


CONCLUSIONS
Blacks had comparable survival and improvement in FP and HRQOL in comparison with whites.
Moore
Derek E
DE
Department of Surgery and Vanderbilt University Transplant Center, 801 Oxford House, Nashville, TN 37232-4753, USA. derek.moore@vanderbilt.edu
Feurer
Irene D
ID
Rodgers
Selwyn
S
Shaffer
David
D
Nylander
William
W
Gorden
D Lee
DL
Chari
Ravi S
RS
Wright
J Kelly
JK
Pinson
C Wright
CW
D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000208:ethnology*; D006085:Graft Survival; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000208:ethnology / Q000401:mortality / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000208:ethnology / Q000401:mortality / Q000592:standards; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000208:ethnology / Q000401:mortality / Q000592:standards; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000208:ethnology / Q000401:mortality / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000592:standards; D011788:Quality of Life; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001741:Black or African American