Organ Donation and African Americans

African Americans make up the largest group of minorities in need of an organ transplant. In 2011, African Americans made up 14 percent of the national population.

The number of organ transplants performed on Black Americans in 2012 was only 14% of the number of Black Americans currently waiting for a transplant. The number of transplants performed on White Americans was 27% of the number currently waiting.
While 29% of the total candidates currently waiting for transplants are Black American, they comprised 14% of organ donors in 2012.
In 2012, 69 percent of donor organs from African Americans were from deceased donors.
Although the total number of White Americans on organ transplant waiting lists is about 1.5 times greater than that of Black Americans, the number of candidates waiting for a kidney transplant is almost the same between Blacks and Whites.
Black Americans have higher rates of diabetes and high blood pressure than White Americans. These conditions are known to put the patient at risk for organ failures.

**U.S. Transplant Waiting List – Candidates by Race/Ethnicity**
Organ	# of Black candidates	Black % of all candidates	# of White candidates	White % of all candidates
All Organs	34,475	29.5%	51,250	43.9%
Kidney	32,324	34.0%	35,917	37.8%
Liver	1,147	7.3%	10,997	69.7%
Heart	710	21.1%	2,279	67.7%
Lung	166	10.2%	1,325	81.3%

Source: HRSA U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). Based on OPTN data as of January 18, 2013.
http://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/latestData/viewDataReports.asp*

**Transplants Performed in the U.S. by Recipient Ethnicity**
	2012	% of total 2012 transplants
Black	4,683	20.0%
White	13,965	59.8%
Total Transplants	23,362	100%

Source: HRSA U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). Based on OPTN data as of January 18, 2013.
http://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/latestData/viewDataReports.asp

**U.S. Organ Donors Recovered, 2012**
Donor Type	# of Black donors	Black % of all donors	# of White donors	White % of all donors
Living	512	10.5%	3,450	70.6%
Deceased	1,133	16.7%	4,480	66.1%
Total	1,645	14.1%	7,930	68.0%

Source: HRSA U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). Based on OPTN data as of January 18, 2013.
http://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/latestData/viewDataReports.asp

* OPTN data is updated monthly. The OMHRC data & statistics for this section will be updated biannually. For the most recent OPTN data, click here

Content Last Modified: 2/12/2013 10:43:00 AM

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