Willingness of human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients to donate their organs for transplantation in Taiwan: a cross-sectional questionnaire survey.
BACKGROUND
With the introduction of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) that has significantly improved survival, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients may be potential organ donors to HIV-positive recipients in a few countries. Organ shortage remains a challenge for organ transplantation in Taiwan, where organ donation by HIV-positive patients remains prohibited by law.


METHODS
We assessed the willingness of organ donation (should they be pronounced brain dead, and the ban on HIV-positive organ donation be lifted) among HIV-positive patients who received regular HIV care at a university hospital in a cross-sectional survey between May and August 2015 with the use of an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire interview.


RESULTS
Of the 1010 participants, 93.7% were receiving cART with the latest mean CD4 count and plasma HIV RNA load of 587 cells/mm3and 2.73 log10copies/mL, respectively. Overall, 71.9% were willing to donate organs. In multivariate analysis, factors associated with willingness to donate organs included college or graduate school diploma (odds ratio [OR] 1.571, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.166-2.191), registered willingness to donate in the National Health Insurance system (OR 9.430, 95% CI 1.269-70.051), and knowledge of the information on HIV-positive deceased donors (HIVDD) (OR 1.673, 95% CI 1.073-2.608).


CONCLUSIONS
We concluded that a significant proportion (71.9%) of HIV-positive Taiwanese patients were willing to donate their organs. The willingness was associated with a higher education level, prior registered willingness to donate organs, and awareness of HIVDD.
Department of Internal Medicine, Lotung Poh-Ai Hospital, Medical Lo-Hsu Foundation, I-Lan, Taiwan.
Yi-Chieh
YC
Lee
Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chien-Ching
CC
Hung
Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Hsin-Chu Branch, Hsin-Chu, Taiwan.
Aristine
A
Cheng
Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
Wen-Chun
WC
Liu
Center of Infection Control, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Pei-Ying
PY
Wu
Center of Infection Control, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Shang-Ping
SP
Yang
Center of Infection Control, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Jun-Yu
JY
Zhang
Center of Infection Control, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Yu-Zhen
YZ
Luo
Center of Infection Control, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Hsi-Yen
HY
Chang
Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
Hsin-Yun
HY
Sun
Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
Shan-Chwen
SC
Chang
D000328:Adult; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D019520:Living Donors / Q000193:education / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D066027:Transplant Recipients; D014836:Volition
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations

HIV
; deceased donor; organ transplantation