Organ donation occurred in only .0025% of all deaths in
the United States.
In 1999, there were 21,692 organ transplants performed in
the United States. More than 4,600 were living donated transplants.
By gender, 61% of Americans waiting for donated organs
are male; 39% are female.
African-Americans, who represent 12% of the national population,
receive more than 20% of all kidney transplants. Because
of specific medical conditions, including diabetes and high
blood pressure, African-Americans suffer a disproportionately
high rate of End Stage Renal Disease (kidney failure). There
are currently more than 15,000 African Americans waiting
for kidney or kidney-pancreas transplants nationwide.
Survival rates for organ recipients continue to rise. The
one year survival rate for kidney recipients is 97%, for
heart recipients, 83%, for liver recipients, 81%, and for
pancreas recipients, almost 92%. Between 1988 and 1995,
one year survival rates for lung recipients increased by
almost 34%.
