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University of California

Experimental Lung Transplants Study Reveals Gender Disparity in Lung Transplantation

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers from the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have conducted a study on lung transplant outcomes, revealing a significant disparity in lung transplantation rates between male and female candidates. The study analyzed data from the United Network for Organ Sharing database for adult candidates listed for isolated lung transplantation between March 2022 and March 2024. The results showed that in Era 1, females experienced a lower transplant rate than males, with an adjusted Sub-Hazard Ratio (aSHR) of 0.68. The study also found that the implementation of the Composite Allocation Score (CAS) system led to changes in transplantation rates and waitlist mortality.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study evaluated access to lung transplantation and outcomes in male and female candidates, examining the impact of recent changes to the Composite Allocation Score (CAS) system.
  • The data analysis included 6,878 patients, with Era 1 comprising 3,311 patients (40.7% female) and Era 2 comprising 3,567 patients (42.7% female).
  • In Era 1, females experienced a lower transplant rate than males, with an adjusted Sub-Hazard Ratio (aSHR) of 0.68.
  • The implementation of the CAS system led to changes in transplantation rates and waitlist mortality.
  • The study concluded that the findings underscore the need for ongoing evaluation and potential modification of allocation policies and practices.
  • The research has been peer-reviewed and published in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 2025.
  • The study was conducted by a team of researchers from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, including Stephanie McKay, Peter D. Cho, John P. White, Hedwig Zappacosta, Malini Daniel, Alexey Abramov, Olawale Amubieya, and Abbas Ardehali.

Statistics:

  • Total patients included in the analysis: 6,878
  • Era 1 patients: 3,311 (40.7% female)
  • Era 2 patients: 3,567 (42.7% female)
  • Adjusted Sub-Hazard Ratio (aSHR) for females in Era 1: 0.68
  • Transplantation rate for females in Era 1: lower than for males
  • Waitlist mortality rate for females in Era 2: higher than for males

Sources:

  • NewsRx. New Experimental Lung Transplants Study Results Reported from David Geffen School of Medicine University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) (Gender Disparity in Lung Transplantation in the Pre- and Post-Composite Allocation Score System). Health & Medicine Week. October 24, 2025; p 2601.
  • The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 2025. "Gender Disparity in Lung Transplantation in the Pre- and Post-Composite Allocation Score System."

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