Ann Liver Transplant.  2022 May;2(1):15-20. 10.52604/alt.22.0002.

Analysis of the number of liver and kidney transplantations during COVID-19 pandemic in Korea: A report of years 2020 and 2021

• Chung YK
• Kang SH

• KMID: 2560876
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.52604/alt.22.0002

Abstract

Background
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had serious effects on the healthcare system and has led to decrease in organ transplantation. Since the prevalence of COVID-19 in Korea was much lower than in Western countries, we analyzed the influence of COVID-19 on organ donation and transplantation in Korea.
Methods
The annual number of kidney transplantation (KT) and liver transplantation (LT) in 2020–2021 were compared with those in 2019 using data from Korean Network for Organ Sharing database.
Results
The number of deceased donors (DD) was 450 in 2019, 478 in 2020 and 442 in 2021; their average monthly number was 37.5±5.9 in 2019, 39.8±4.4 in 2020, and 36.8±6.4 in 2021 (p≥0.284). The annual case number of DDLT was 391 in 2019, 395 in 2020 and 357 in 2021; their monthly case number was 32.6±5.7, 32.9±4.7, and 29.8±3.6, respectively (p≥0.161). The annual case number of DDKT was 794, 848, and 747, respectively; their average monthly case number was 66.1±10.4, 70.7±9.8, and 62.3±12.2, respectively (p≥0.285). The annual case number of LDLT was 1,577, 1,146, and 1,126, respectively; their average monthly case number was 131.4±18.1, 95.5±8.0, and 93.8±8.9, respectively (p<0.001). The annual case number of LDKT was 2,293, 1,432, and 1,445, respectively; their average monthly case number was 191.1±19.5, 119.3±11.7, and 120.4±14.9, respectively (p<0.001).
Conclusion
The results of this study indicate that, in Korea, the number of DDLT and DDKT remained stable during 2020–2021, but those of LDLT and LDKT were significantly reduced in Korea during the two-year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keyword

Corona virus disease 19; Deceased donor; Living donors; Organ transplantation; Donation promotion