A recent study published in JAMA Network Open highlights the significant impact of socioeconomic status on access to organ transplants, particularly affecting marginalized communities. The research, led by Dr. Daniel M. Guidot and Dr. Lisa M. McElroy, reveals that patients from lower socioeconomic backgrounds face numerous barriers throughout the transplant process, from disease recognition to being placed on the transplant waiting list.
The study utilized data from the Cleveland Clinic Healthcare System, linked with the area deprivation index (ADI) and national U.S. transplant registry data. It found that patients from the least-resourced ADI quintile were more likely to experience lapses in care early in the continuum, less likely to be referred to pulmonary medicine, and had a higher likelihood of dying across all care transitions.
This disparity is particularly pronounced among minority communities, who are often overrepresented in lower ADI quintiles.
Dr. Guidot emphasized the need for standardized criteria and reporting requirements to mitigate biases in the transplant evaluation process. “Equitable access to transplant has emerged as a major field of study, and understanding how patients progress from disease recognition to transplant candidacy is critical,” he stated.
The study’s findings underscore the importance of addressing structural root causes of inequitable access to ensure that all patients, regardless of socioeconomic status, have a fair chance at receiving life-saving transplants.
The research calls for national initiatives and policy interventions to eliminate these disparities and improve health outcomes for marginalized groups.
See: “Socioeconomic Status—Another Piece in the Puzzle of Access to Transplant” (March 13, 2025)Â