Study says Blacks more likely to die while waiting on kidney transplant on The Louisiana Weekly

Number of patients who die waiting for kidney transplants on the rise

A new study by the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology found that 46 percent of patients age 60 and older presently waiting for a life-saving kidney transplant will die before receiving an organ from a de_ceased donor.

Jesse Schold, an Associate Instructor of Medicine at the University of Florida, analyzed the data of nearly 55,000 patients over age 60 that were on the U.S. waiting list for a kidney transplant from 1995 to 2007.   Schold also found that African Americans on the national waiting list were more likely to die before receiving a kidney transplant.

"It is important to understand the dire need for people to register as organ and tissue donors especially among minorities, where the need is greater" said Jeanette Slakey, Executive Director of the Legacy Donor Foundation. "One donor can save nine lives and enhance the lives of up to 50 more through organ and tissue donation."

More than 50 percent of patients on Louisiana's transplant waiting list are over the age of 50, and out of the 657 people waiting for a kidney transplant between the ages of 50 and 64, 429 are Black.

According to Slakey, one of the most common myths amongst minorities is that organ donation is against their religion when in fact; all major religions approve of organ, eye and tissue donation, and even see it as an unselfish act of kindness.

The Legacy Donor Foundation has partnered with the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency (LOPA) to form Donate Life Louisiana, a collaboration that aims to bring a cohesive face to organ donation education and awareness in Louisiana.

Louisiana's total registry is currently 1.7 million names strong. Yet, last year alone nearly 150 patients in Louisiana died waiting or were too sick to receive an organ transplant. Donate Life Louisiana hopes to reach 50 percent of the state's population (over 2.2 million people) as registered donors by 2014.

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