Donor Characteristics of Pancreas Transplantation in Australia and New Zealand: A Cohort Study 1984-2014

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to audit the characteristics of pancreas donors over time in Australia and New Zealand. Pancreas transplantation was introduced in Australian and New Zealand in 1984. METHODS: We analyzed data from the Australia and New Zealand Islet and Pancreas Transplant Registry, 1984 to 2014. We investigated the variation of donor characteristics of sex, age, body mass index, smoking status, blood group, multiple organ donation, cytomegalovirus status, terminal creatinine, hypertension, and cause of death for pancreas transplantation over time. We used χ(2) test (Fisher test when necessary) or analysis of variance to test difference for categorical or continuous characteristics, respectively. RESULTS: There were 628 pancreas donors from 1984 to 2014. Donor body mass index (from 21.9 to 24.0, P < 0.001) and age (from 23.9 to 28.5, P = 0.02) have both increased while terminal creatinine has decreased (86.3 to 73.3, P = 0.01) from 1995 to 2014. In the meantime, the proportions of donors with hypertension (from 19% to 1%, P < 0.001) and who were smokers (from 54% to 15%, P < 0.001) have decreased. Profile of cause of donor death has also changed over time (P = 0.06) with increase in cerebral hypoxia/ischemia (from 3% to 17%) and reductions in intracranial hemorrhage (27% to 13%). CONCLUSIONS: Many donor characteristics have changed over time. The most significant changes appear to reflect changes in the general population, rather than changes in donor selection.