Socioeconomic deprivation is not associated with reduced survival of lung transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Important risk factors for long-term survival of lung transplant (LT) recipients are infection, acute graft rejection (AR) and chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD). Socioeconomic deprivation (SED) is associated with increased graft failure rate after heart and kidney transplantation, but has not been investigated in LT recipients. The aim of this study was to evaluate an association between LT recipients' SED status and development of AR, CLAD, and long-term survival.

METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study. Over a 23 y period, 233 patients were identified from the Auckland City Hospital Lung Transplant Registry, Auckland, New Zealand. All patients were divided into two groups according to the 2013 New Zealand Deprivation Index Score.

RESULTS: The incidence of AR in the higher SED group was 34.0/100 person-y (95% confidence interval [CI]: 24.7-46.7/100 person-y) and in the lower SED group 40.2/100 person-y (95% CI: 33.5-48.3/100 person-y) (P = 0.373). The incidence of CLAD in the higher SED group was 10.7/100 person-y (95% CI: 6.2-18.4/100 person-y) and 9.3 (6.9-12.5/100 person-y) in the lower SED group (P = 0.645). Mortality in the higher SED group was 12.9/100 person-y (95% CI: 9.2-17.9/100 person-y) and 12.4/100 person-y (95% CI: 10.0-15.3/100 person-y) in the lower SED group (P = 0.834).

CONCLUSIONS: SED status of LT recipients in New Zealand has no negative effect on development of AR, CLAD, and patients' survival.