title: Predictors of non-transplantation of adult donor organs--an observational study using routine data from Eurotransplant.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The majority of pancreases, offered in allocation, are not transplanted. This pancreas under-utilisation is a phenomenon observed in all transplant systems in North-America and Europe. It was the aim of this study to analyse factors predictive of pancreas non-transplantation in Germany.
  
  
  METHODS
  Routine Eurotransplant data of 3,666 deceased German donors (from 2002-2011) were used for multivariate modelling. Socio-demographic and medical factors were considered as independent variables in logistic regression models with non-transplantation as dependent variable.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Male gender, advanced age, overweight/obesity, long ICU stay, a history of smoking, non-traumatic brain death, elevated levels of sodium, serum glucose, lipase/amylase and the liver not being considered for procurement were significant independent predictors of non-transplantation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In line with previous research, advanced age, high BMI, long ICU stay and the liver not being considered for procurement were the strongest predictors of pancreas non-transplantation in Germany. About three quarters of the variance remained unexplained, suggesting that factors not assessed or unknown may play a decisive role.
authors.affiliation: Medical Sociology, Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, Dr.-Gessler-Str. 17, 93051, Regensburg, Germany. mail@drewitz.eu.
authors.forename: Karl Philipp
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Drewitz
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93051, Regensburg, Germany. martin.loss@klinik.uni-regensburg.de.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loss
authors.affiliation: Medical Sociology, Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, Dr.-Gessler-Str. 17, 93051, Regensburg, Germany. julika.loss@klinik.uni-regensburg.de.
authors.forename: Julika
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Loss
authors.affiliation: Medical Sociology, Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, Dr.-Gessler-Str. 17, 93051, Regensburg, Germany. Christian.Apfelbacher@klinik.uni-regensburg.de.
authors.forename: Christian Joachim
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Apfelbacher
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016035:Pancreas Transplantation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D066027:Transplant Recipients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult