Lung transplant waitlist outcomes in the United States and patient travel distance

Abstract

There is a broad range of patient travel distances to reach a lung transplant hospital in the United States. Whether patient travel distance is associated with waitlist outcomes is unknown. We present a cohort study of patients listed between January 1, 2006 and May 31, 2017 using the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. Travel distance was measured from the patient's permanent zip code to the transplant hospital using shared access signature URL access to Google Maps, and assessed using multivariable competing risk regression models. There were 22 958 patients who met inclusion criteria. Median travel distance was 69.7 miles. Among patients who traveled > 60 miles, 41.2% bypassed a closer hospital and sought listing at a more distant hospital. In the adjusted models, when compared to patients who traveled ≤60 miles, patients who traveled >360 miles had a 27% lower subhazard ratio (SHR)

Disparities in Lung Transplant among Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: An Analysis of the IPF-PRO Registry

“…Prior research has evaluated access to a lung transplant center using both geographic distance and rural dwelling, and found that living further away from a lung transplant center decreases the likelihood of lung transplant listing (21). In contrast, a more recent analysis found that a longer travel distance was associated with favorable waitlist outcomes in patients seeking a lung transplant (22). Longer travel distance to clinic has also been associated with an increased risk of death or lung transplant in patients with other fibrotic interstitial lung diseases (23).…”