Minorities less likely to get a living organ transplant

From OPTN/UNOS Minority Affairs Committee, Report to the Board of Directors, November 18-19, 2008,
St. Louis, MO, at 10.

However, an analysis of the CMS 2728 form showing the likelihood of being informed of kidney transplantation, being placed on the kidney transplant waitlist, or of receiving a living donor transplant, revealed that approximately 73% of patients beginning renal replacement therapy for the first time (in July-Dec. 2005) were informed of their kidney transplant options (Figure 3), while 1.75 percent received a preemptive living donor transplant (Figure 4). In addition, the data showed that African Americans, Hispanics and Asians were more likely to be informed than Native Americans and Whites. However, African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and Native Americans were less likely to be placed on the waitlist or receive a living donor transplant than Whites.