Background
Significant uncertainties remain regarding the utilization of organs for solid organ transplantation (SOT) from donors with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). The aim of this study was to assess the trends in utilization of organs from donors with COVID‐19 and their short‐term outcomes.
Methods
Deceased donors between March 2020 and December 2021 with a positive COVID nucleic acid test from respiratory tract within 14 days of transplantation were analyzed using the de‐identified United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database. Donor and recipient characteristics of COVID‐19 positive (COVID+) organs were compared to COVID‐19 negative (COVID−) organs during this period. We analyzed the trends in the utilization of SOT from COVID+ donors across the United States, donor characteristics, and the quality of donor organ and recipient outcomes (length of hospitalization, rates of organ rejection, delayed graft function, 30‐day graft/patient survival).
Results
During the study period, 193 COVID+ donors led to the transplantation of 281‐kidneys, 106‐livers, and 36‐hearts in 414 adult recipients. COVID+ patients donated a median of two organs. These donors were younger and had a lower median Kidney Donor Profile Index (0.37 vs. 0.50,
p
< .001), lower median serum creatinine (0.8 vs. 1.0 mg/dl,
p
= .003), similar median serum total bilirubin (0.6 mg/dl,
p
= .46), and similar left ventricular ejection fraction (60%,
p
= .84) when compared to COVID− donors. Short‐term outcomes, including 30‐day graft/patient survival, were similar in both groups.
Conclusions
Analysis of short‐term outcomes from the UNOS database indicates that a positive COVID test in an otherwise medically suitable donor should not preclude consideration of non‐lung solid organ transplantation.