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Kanneganti M, Byhoff E, Serper M, Olthoff KM, Bittermann T. Neighborhood-level social determinants of health measures independently predict receipt of living donor liver transplantation in the United States. Liver Transpl 2024; 30:618-627. [PMID: 38100175 DOI: 10.1097/lvt.0000000000000313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Disparities exist in the access to living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) in the United States. However, the association of neighborhood-level social determinants of health (SDoH) on the receipt of LDLT is not well-established. This was a retrospective cohort study of adult liver transplant recipients between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2021 at centers performing LDLT using the United Network for Organ Sharing database, which was linked through patients' ZIP code to a set of 24 neighborhood-level SDoH measures from different data sources. Temporal trends and center differences in neighborhood Social Deprivation Index (SDI), a validated scale of socioeconomic deprivation ranging from 0 to 100 (0=least disadvantaged), were assessed by transplant type. Multivariable logistic regression evaluated the association of increasing SDI on receipt of LDLT [vs. deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT)]. There were 51,721 DDLT and 4026 LDLT recipients at 59 LDLT-performing centers during the study period. Of the 24 neighborhood-level SDoH measures studied, the SDI was most different between the 2 transplant types, with LDLT recipients having lower SDI (ie, less socioeconomic disadvantage) than DDLT recipients (median SDI 37 vs. 47; p < 0.001). The median difference in SDI between the LDLT and DDLT groups significantly decreased from 13 in 2005 to 3 in 2021 ( p = 0.003). In the final model, the SDI quintile was independently associated with transplant type ( p < 0.001) with a threshold SDI of ~40, above which increasing SDI was significantly associated with reduced odds of LDLT (vs. reference SDI 1-20). As a neighborhood-level SDoH measure, SDI is useful for evaluating disparities in the context of LDLT. Center outreach efforts that aim to reduce disparities in LDLT could preferentially target US ZIP codes with SDI > 40.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mounika Kanneganti
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Elena Byhoff
- Department of Medicine, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Marina Serper
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kim M Olthoff
- Division of Transplant Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Therese Bittermann
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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2
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Bajaj JS, Choudhury A, Kumaran V, Wong F, Seto WK, Alvares-Da-Silva MR, Desalgn H, Hayes PC, Idilman R, Topazian M, Torre A, Xie Q, George J, Kamath PS. Geographic disparities in access to liver transplant for advanced cirrhosis: Time to ring the alarm! Am J Transplant 2024; 24:733-742. [PMID: 38387623 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajt.2024.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Decompensated cirrhosis and hepatocellular cancer are major risk factors for mortality worldwide. Liver transplantation (LT), both live-donor LT or deceased-donor LT, are lifesaving, but there are several barriers toward equitable access. These barriers are exacerbated in the setting of critical illness or acute-on-chronic liver failure. Rates of LT vary widely worldwide but are lowest in lower-income countries owing to lack of resources, infrastructure, late disease presentation, and limited donor awareness. A recent experience by the Chronic Liver Disease Evolution and Registry for Events and Decompensation consortium defined these barriers toward LT as critical in determining overall survival in hospitalized cirrhosis patients. A major focus should be on appropriate, affordable, and early cirrhosis and hepatocellular cancer care to prevent the need for LT. Live-donor LT is predominant across Asian countries, whereas deceased-donor LT is more common in Western countries; both approaches have unique challenges that add to the access disparities. There are many challenges toward equitable access but uniform definitions of acute-on-chronic liver failure, improving transplant expertise, enhancing availability of resources and encouraging knowledge between centers, and preventing disease progression are critical to reduce LT disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmohan S Bajaj
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Virginia Commonwealth University and Richmond VA Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia, USA.
| | - Ashok Choudhury
- Department of Hepatology, Institute for Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Vinay Kumaran
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Florence Wong
- Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Wai Kay Seto
- Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Mario Reis Alvares-Da-Silva
- Department of Hepatology, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Hailemichael Desalgn
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, St Paul's Hospital, Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Peter C Hayes
- Hepatology, Division of Health Sciences, Deanery of Clinical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ramazan Idilman
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Mark Topazian
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, St Paul's Hospital, Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Aldo Torre
- Department of Medicine, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Qing Xie
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jacob George
- Storr Liver Centre, Westmead Millennium Institute, Westmead Hospital and University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Patrick S Kamath
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
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3
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Winder GS, Fernandez AC, Perumalswami PV, Mellinger JL, Clifton EG. Reexamining "psychosocial clearance": A procedural framework for psychosocial evaluation in liver transplantation. Liver Transpl 2024; 30:431-442. [PMID: 38009890 DOI: 10.1097/lvt.0000000000000306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Psychosocial and "nonmedical" phenomena are commonly encountered in liver transplantation (LT) evaluations. They are simultaneously crucial decision-making factors and some of the most difficult and controversial clinical matters clinicians confront. Epidemiology, societal trends, and the preponderance of psychological and behavioral factors underpinning common end-stage liver diseases ensure that LT teams will continue to encounter highly complex psychosocial patient presentations. Psychosocial policies, practices, and opinions vary widely among clinicians and LT centers. Liver clinicians already report insufficient psychosocial expertise, which creates a large gap between the stark need for psychosocial expansion, improvement, and innovation in LT and the lack of accompanying guidance on how to achieve it. While the clinical domains of an LT psychosocial evaluation have been well-described, few articles analyze the procedures by which teams determine candidates' "psychosocial clearance" and no conceptual frameworks exist. This article proposes a framework of core domains of psychosocial evaluation procedures, common pitfalls, and practical improvement strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerald Scott Winder
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Anne C Fernandez
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Ponni V Perumalswami
- Department of Internal Medicine, Veterans Affairs, Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jessica L Mellinger
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Erin G Clifton
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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4
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Endo Y, Sasaki K, Moazzam Z, Woldesenbet S, Lima HA, Alaimo L, Munir MM, Shaikh CF, Yang J, Azap L, Katayama E, Kitago M, Schenk A, Washburn K, Pawlik TM. Liver transplantation access and outcomes: Impact of variations in liver-specific specialty care. Surgery 2024; 175:868-876. [PMID: 37743104 DOI: 10.1016/j.surg.2023.06.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We sought to characterize the impact access to gastroenterologists/hepatologists has on liver transplantation listing, as well as time on the liver transplantation waitlist and post-transplant outcomes. METHODS Liver transplantation registrants aged >18 years between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2019 were identified from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients Standard Analytic Files. The liver transplantation registration ratio was defined as the ratio of liver transplant waitlist registrations in a given county per 1,000 liver-related deaths. RESULTS A total of 150,679 liver transplantation registrants were included. Access to liver transplantation centers and liver-specific specialty physicians varied markedly throughout the United States. Of note, the liver transplantation registration ratio was lower in counties with poor access to liver-specific care versus counties with adequate access (poor access 137.2, interquartile range 117.8-163.2 vs adequate access 157.6, interquartile range 127.3-192.2, P < .001). Among patients referred for liver transplantation, the cumulative incidence of waitlist mortality and post-transplant graft survival was comparable among patients with poor versus adequate access to liver-specific care (both P > .05). Among liver transplantation recipients living in areas with poor access, after controlling for recipient and donor characteristics, cold ischemic time, and model for end-stage liver disease score, the area deprivation index predicted graft survival (referent, low area deprivation index; medium area deprivation index, hazard ratio 1.52, 95% confidence interval 1.03-12.23; high area deprivation index, 1.45, 95% confidence interval 1.01-12.09, both P < .05). CONCLUSION Poor access to liver-specific care was associated with a reduction in liver transplantation registration, and individuals residing in counties with high social deprivation had worse graft survival among patients living in counties with poor access to liver-specific care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutaka Endo
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH
| | | | - Zorays Moazzam
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH
| | - Selamawit Woldesenbet
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH
| | - Henrique A Lima
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH
| | - Laura Alaimo
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH
| | - Muhammad Musaab Munir
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH
| | - Chanza F Shaikh
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH
| | - Jason Yang
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH
| | - Lovette Azap
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH
| | - Erryk Katayama
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH
| | - Minoru Kitago
- Department of Surgery, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Austin Schenk
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH
| | - Kenneth Washburn
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH
| | - Timothy M Pawlik
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH.
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5
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Foley MK, Djerboua M, Kushner T, Biondi MJ, Feld JJ, Terrault NA, Flemming JA. Maternal neighbourhood-level social determinants of health and their association with paediatric hepatitis C screening among children exposed to hepatitis C in pregnancy. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2024; 38:152-160. [PMID: 38273801 DOI: 10.1111/ppe.13042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current guidelines recommend HCV screening by 18 months of age for those exposed to HCV in utero; yet, screening occurs in the minority of children. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the association between maternal neighbourhood-level social determinants of health (SDOH) and paediatric HCV screening in the general population in a publicly funded healthcare system in Canada. METHODS Retrospective cohort study using administrative healthcare data held at ICES. Children born to individuals positive for HCV RNA in pregnancy from 2000 to 2016 were identified and followed for 2 years. Major SDOH were identified, and the primary outcome was HCV screening in exposed children (HCV antibody and/or RNA). Associations between SDOH and HCV screening were determined using multivariate Poisson regression models adjusting for confounding. RESULTS A total of 1780 children born to persons with +HCV RNA were identified, and 29% (n = 516) were screened for HCV by age two. Most mothers resided in the lowest income quintile (42%), and most vulnerable quintiles for material deprivation (41%), housing instability (38%) and ethnic diversity (26%) with 11% living in rural locations. After adjustment for confounding, maternal rural residence (risk ratio [RR] 0.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.62, 1.07) and living in the highest dependency quintile (RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.65, 1.07) were the SDOH most associated with paediatric HCV screening. Younger maternal age (RR 0.98 per 1-year increase, 95% CI 0.97, 0.99), HIV co-infection (RR 1.69, 95% CI 1.16, 2.48) and GI specialist involvement (RR 1.18, 95% CI 1.00, 1.39) were associated with higher probabilities of screening. CONCLUSIONS Among children exposed to HCV during pregnancy, rural residences and living in highly dependent neighbourhoods showed a potential association with a lower probability of HCV screening by the age of 2. Future work evaluating barriers to paediatric HCV screening among rural residing and dependent residents is needed to enhance the screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary K Foley
- Department of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Tatyana Kushner
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Mia J Biondi
- Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jordan J Feld
- Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, Sandra Rotman Centre for Global Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Norah A Terrault
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, Keck School of Medicine at University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jennifer A Flemming
- Department of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
- ICES Queens, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Cancer Care and Epidemiology, Queen's Cancer Research Institute, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
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6
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Endo Y, Sasaki K, Munir MM, Woldesenbet S, Resende V, Rawicz-Pruszyński K, Waqar U, Mavani P, Katayama E, Yang J, Khalil M, Khan MMM, Kitago M, Pawlik TM. Survival Benefit Relative to Treatment Modalities Among Patients with Very Early Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: an Analysis of the National Cancer Database. J Gastrointest Surg 2023; 27:2103-2113. [PMID: 37674099 DOI: 10.1007/s11605-023-05821-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver transplantation (LT) has been considered a potential curative treatment for patients with very early intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and cirrhosis, yet the survival benefit of LT has not been well defined. This study aimed to compare the long-term survival outcomes of patients who underwent LT with that of individuals who received resection and non-curative intent treatment (non-CIT). METHODS Patients who underwent LT, hepatectomy, and non-CIT between 2004 and 2018 were included in the National Cancer Database. Survival benefits of LT over resection and non-CIT were analyzed relative to overall survival (OS). RESULTS Among 863 patients, 54 (6.3%) underwent LT, while 342 (39.6%) underwent surgical resection, and 467 (54.1%) received non-CIT, respectively. While the rates of non-CIT increased over time, the percentages of LT remained consistent during the study period. LT patients had similar 5-year OS to individuals who underwent resection (referent, resection: LT, HR 0.95, 95%CI 0.84-1.58, p=0.84). In contrast, 5-year OS was better among patients who underwent LT versus individuals who had non-CIT after controlling other variables using propensity score overlapping weighting (5-year OS, LT 57.1% vs. LR 25.8%, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS The outcomes of very early ICC patients who underwent LT were similar to individuals who underwent hepatectomy, but better than patients treated with non-CIT. LT should be may be a consideration as a treatment option for patients with early stage ICC who are unsuitable candidates for resection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutaka Endo
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Kazunari Sasaki
- Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Muhammad Musaab Munir
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Selamawit Woldesenbet
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Vivian Resende
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
- Federal University of Minas Gerais School of Medicine, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Karol Rawicz-Pruszyński
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Usama Waqar
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Parit Mavani
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Erryk Katayama
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jason Yang
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Mujtaba Khalil
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Muhammad Muntazir Mehdi Khan
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Minoru Kitago
- Department of Surgery, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Timothy M Pawlik
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA.
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7
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Yilma M, Dalal N, Wadhwani SI, Hirose R, Mehta N. Geographic disparities in access to liver transplantation. Liver Transpl 2023; 29:987-997. [PMID: 37232214 PMCID: PMC10914246 DOI: 10.1097/lvt.0000000000000182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Since the Final Rule regarding transplantation was published in 1999, organ distribution policies have been implemented to reduce geographic disparity. While a recent change in liver allocation, termed acuity circles, eliminated the donor service area as a unit of distribution to decrease the geographic disparity of waitlisted patients to liver transplantation, recently published results highlight the complexity of addressing geographic disparity. From geographic variation in donor supply, as well as liver disease burden and differing model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores of candidates and MELD scores necessary to receive liver transplantation, to the urban-rural disparity in specialty care access, and to neighborhood deprivation (community measure of socioeconomic status) in liver transplant access, addressing disparities of access will require a multipronged approach at the patient, transplant center, and national level. Herein, we review the current knowledge of these disparities-from variation in larger (regional) to smaller (census tract or zip code) levels to the common etiologies of liver disease, which are particularly affected by these geographic boundaries. The geographic disparity in liver transplant access must balance the limited organ supply with the growing demand. We must identify patient-level factors that contribute to their geographic disparity and incorporate these findings at the transplant center level to develop targeted interventions. We must simultaneously work at the national level to standardize and share patient data (including socioeconomic status and geographic social deprivation indices) to better understand the factors that contribute to the geographic disparity. The complex interplay between organ distribution policy, referral patterns, and variable waitlisting practices with the proportion of high MELD patients and differences in potential donor supply must all be considered to create a national policy strategy to address the inequities in the system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mignote Yilma
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco
- National Clinician Scholars Program, University of California San Francisco
| | - Nicole Dalal
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco
| | | | - Ryutaro Hirose
- Department of Transplant, University of California San Francisco
| | - Neil Mehta
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco
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8
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Kehar M, Griffiths R, Flemming JA. Impact of decompensated cirrhosis in children: A population-based study. CANADIAN LIVER JOURNAL 2023; 6:278-282. [PMID: 37503518 PMCID: PMC10370729 DOI: 10.3138/canlivj-2022-0031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Background We describe the proportion of children with compensated cirrhosis who develop decompensation in Ontario, Canada over the past two decades. Methods This is a retrospective population-based cohort study using routinely collected health care data from Ontario, Canada held at ICES during 1997-2017. Diagnosis of cirrhosis was made using validated ICES definition, and decompensation events were defined according to validated coding. Rates of decompensation, type of decompensation, and incidence of liver transplantation after decompensation were analyzed. Databases were linked at the individual level and analyzed at ICES-Queen's. Results A total of 2,755 children with compensated cirrhosis were included and 9% (253) developed decompensation over a median follow-up of 7 years. Children most likely to suffer decompensation were younger (median age 10 versus 4 years, p < 0.001) and female (45% versus 52%, p = 0.03). Ascites (137/253, 54%) was the most frequent complication. 199/2755 (7%) of children with cirrhosis received liver transplantation, of which 64% (128/199) occurred after a decompensation event. Overall, a total of 132 (4.7%) deaths occurred during the study period, with 55 deaths following a decompensating event. Conclusion We present the first study to describe rates of decompensation, type, and rate of liver transplantation after decompensation in pediatric cirrhosis at the population level. To improve the care of children with liver disease, early detection of liver disease, early initiation of specific treatments as well as identification of children who are at risk of becoming decompensated are crucial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohit Kehar
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Jennifer A Flemming
- ICES-Queen’s
- Department of Medicine, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
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9
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Yilma M, Cogan R, Shui AM, Neuhaus JM, Light C, Braun H, Mehta N, Hirose R. Community-level social vulnerability and individual socioeconomic status on liver transplant referral outcome. Hepatol Commun 2023; 7:e00196. [PMID: 37378636 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent endeavors emphasize the importance of understanding early barriers to liver transplantation (LT) by consistently collecting data on patient demographics, socioeconomic factors, and geographic social deprivation indices. METHODS In this retrospective single-center cohort study of 1657 adults referred for LT evaluation, we assessed the association between community-level vulnerability and individual socioeconomic status measures on the rate of waitlisting and transplantation. Patients' addresses were linked to Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) at the census tract-level to characterize community-level vulnerability. Descriptive statistics were used to describe patient characteristics. Multivariable cause-specific HRs were used to assess the association between community-level vulnerability, individual measures of the socioeconomic status, and LT evaluation outcomes (waitlist and transplantation). RESULTS Among the 1657 patients referred for LT during the study period, 54% were waitlisted and 26% underwent LT. A 0.1 increase in overall SVI correlated with an 8% lower rate of waitlisting (HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.87-0.96, p < 0.001), with socioeconomic status, household characteristics, housing type and transportation, and racial and ethnic minority status domains contributing significantly to this association. Patients residing in more vulnerable communities experienced a 6% lower rate of transplantation (HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.91- 0.98, p = 0.007), with socioeconomic status and household characteristic domain of SVI significantly contributing to this association. At the individual level, both government insurance and employment status were associated with lower rates of waitlisting and transplantation. There was no association with mortality prior to waitlisting or mortality while on the waitlist. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that both individual and community measures of the socioeconomic status (overall SVI) are associated with LT evaluation outcomes. Furthermore, we identified individual measures of neighborhood deprivation associated with both waitlisting and transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mignote Yilma
- General Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- National Clinician Scholars Program at the University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Raymond Cogan
- University of California, San Francisco Transplant Program, California, USA
| | - Amy M Shui
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - John M Neuhaus
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Carolyn Light
- University of California, San Francisco Transplant Program, California, USA
| | - Hillary Braun
- General Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Neil Mehta
- Division of Gastroenterology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Ryutaro Hirose
- Division of Transplant Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
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10
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Ge J, Lai JC, Wadhwani SI. Novel approaches are needed to study social determinants of health in liver transplantation. Liver Transpl 2023; 29:241-243. [PMID: 35962612 PMCID: PMC10268038 DOI: 10.1002/lt.26554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jin Ge
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of
Medicine, University of California–San Francisco, San Francisco, California,
USA
| | - Jennifer C. Lai
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of
Medicine, University of California–San Francisco, San Francisco, California,
USA
| | - Sharad I. Wadhwani
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of
Pediatrics, University of California–San Francisco, San Francisco,
California, USA
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Park C, Schappe T, Peskoe S, Mohottige D, Chan NW, Bhavsar NA, Boulware LE, Pendergast J, Kirk AD, McElroy LM. A comparison of deprivation indices and application to transplant populations. Am J Transplant 2023; 23:377-386. [PMID: 36695687 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajt.2022.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The choice of deprivation index can influence conclusions drawn regarding the extent of deprivation within a community and the identification of the most deprived communities in the United States. This study aimed to determine the degree of correlation among deprivation indices commonly used to characterize transplant populations. We used a retrospective cohort consisting of adults listed for liver or kidney transplants between 2008 and 2018 to compare 4 deprivation indices: neighborhood deprivation index, social deprivation index (SDI), area deprivation index, and social vulnerability index. Pairwise correlation between deprivation indices by transplant referral regions was measured using Spearman correlations of population-weighted medians and upper quartiles. In total, 52 individual variables were used among the 4 deprivation indices with 25% overlap. For both organs, the correlation between the population-weighted 75th percentile of the deprivation indices by transplant referral region was highest between SDI and social vulnerability index (liver and kidney, 0.93) and lowest between area deprivation index and SDI (liver, 0.19 and kidney, 0.15). The choice of deprivation index affects the applicability of research findings across studies examining the relationship between social risk and clinical outcomes. Appropriate application of these measures to transplant populations requires careful index selection based on the intended use and included variable relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Park
- Division of Abdominal Transplant, Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Tyler Schappe
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Sarah Peskoe
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Dinushika Mohottige
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Duke University, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Norine W Chan
- Division of Abdominal Transplant, Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Nrupen A Bhavsar
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Duke University, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - L Ebony Boulware
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Duke University, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jane Pendergast
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Allan D Kirk
- Division of Abdominal Transplant, Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Lisa M McElroy
- Division of Abdominal Transplant, Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
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12
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Russo MW. Identifying barriers first-Then developing keys to open doors and expand access to liver transplantation. Liver Transpl 2022; 28:1421-1422. [PMID: 35582738 DOI: 10.1002/lt.26508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mark W Russo
- Division of Hepatology, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
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