A comprehensive analysis by Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University researchers reveals stark disparities in lung transplant access across different U.S. regions. The findings demonstrate that geographic location remains a critical barrier to equitable organ distribution, even following national allocation system updates implemented to address regional inequities.
According to the research, high-access regions achieved transplant rates of 85 percent, compared to moderate-access regions at 65 percent and limited-access regions at just 42 percent. These significant variations indicate that patients’ geographic location substantially impacts their likelihood of receiving a transplant. The persistent disparities suggest that policy changes have not adequately addressed underlying structural inequities in the organ allocation system, prompting researchers to call for additional refinements to achieve truly equitable access.
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