A kidney transplant fast track program has shown promising results in reducing racial disparities in waitlisting and transplantation rates. Conducted at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Starzl Transplantation Institute, the program significantly improved outcomes for Black patients compared to standard care. The study, led by Dr. Larissa Myaskovsky, found that Black patients in the fast track program were 54% more likely to be waitlisted and 52% more likely to receive a transplant than those in the standard care group.
The fast track program streamlined the evaluation process by completing most pretransplant testing during the first clinic appointment. This approach not only expedited the waitlisting process but also minimized the racial and ethnic disparities that have long plagued kidney transplantation. In contrast, Black patients in the standard care group were 29% less likely to be waitlisted than their White counterparts.
Despite these improvements, the study highlighted that socioeconomic factors still play a significant role in access to transplantation. Patients with household incomes of $50,000 or less were 21% less likely to be waitlisted and 25% less likely to undergo transplantation compared to those with higher incomes. However, the fast track program’s success in reducing racial disparities offers a hopeful path forward.
The findings underscore the need for continued efforts to address both racial and socioeconomic disparities in kidney transplantation, ensuring equitable access to life-saving treatments for all patients.
See: “Kidney Transplant Fast Track Program Speeds Waitlisting, Reduces Disparities” (March 18, 2025)
