TY - JOUR
AU - Nimmo, Ailish
AU - Gardiner, Dale
AU - Ushiro-Lumb, Ines
AU - Ravanan, Rommel
AU - Forsythe, John
PY - 2022
DA - July
TI - The global impact of COVID-19 on solid organ transplantation: two years into a pandemic
JO - Transplantation
EP - 1329
VL - 106
IS - 7
DO - https://doi.org/10.1097/TP.0000000000004151
AB - The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a major global impact on solid organ transplantation (SOT). An estimated 16% global reduction in transplant activity occurred over the course of 2020, most markedly impacting kidney transplant and living donor programs, resulting in substantial knock-on effects for waitlisted patients. The increased severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection risk and excess deaths in transplant candidates has resulted in substantial effort to prioritize the safe restart and continuation of transplant programs over the second year of the pandemic, with transplant rates returning towards prepandemic levels. Over the past 2 y, COVID-19 mortality in SOT recipients has fallen from 20%–25% to 8%–10%, attributed to the increased and early availability of SARS-CoV-2 testing, adherence to nonpharmaceutical interventions, development of novel treatments, and vaccination. Despite these positive steps, transplant programs and SOT recipients continue to face challenges. Vaccine efficacy in SOT recipients is substantially lower than the general population and SOT recipients remain at an increased risk of adverse outcomes if they develop COVID-19. SOT recipients and transplant teams need to remain vigilant and ongoing adherence to nonpharmaceutical interventions appears essential. In this review, we summarize the global impact of COVID-19 on transplant activity, donor evaluation, and patient outcomes over the past 2 y, discuss the current strategies aimed at preventing and treating SARS-CoV-2 infection in SOT recipients, and based on lessons learnt from this pandemic, propose steps the transplant community could consider as preparation for future pandemics.
PB - Wolters Kluwer
UR - https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/publications/5410745f-9088-4bea-8fc4-74553c6ed0eb
KW - Coronavirus (COVID-19)
KW - Hospital care
ER