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Impact of distance from liver transplant centre on outcomes following liver transplantation: an Australian single-centre study.

Authors :
Chin S
Kench C
Cao R
Lee C
Waller K
Virtue S
West C
Valliani T
Bowen DG
Jacob R
Gill M
Pulitano C
Crawford M
Strasser SI
McCaughan GW
Liu K
Source :
Internal medicine journal [Intern Med J] 2025 Jan 13. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Jan 13.
Publication Year :
2025
Publisher :
Ahead of Print

Abstract

Background: Access to liver transplantation (LT) is affected by geographic disparities. Higher waitlist mortality is observed in patients residing farther from LT centres, but the impact of distance on post-LT outcomes is unclear.<br />Aims: To evaluate whether the distance LT recipients reside from their LT centre affects graft and patient outcomes.<br />Methods: We retrospectively studied consecutive adult patients who received deceased donor LT at a statewide LT referral centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH), 2006-2021. The primary outcome was overall patient survival.<br />Results: A total of 973 patients who underwent LT during the study period were analysed. The median distance from patient residence to RPAH was 44.9 km (interquartile range 21.9-168.0). Of these, 64.2% lived ≤100 km from RPAH. Compared to patients living ≤100 km from RPAH, those living >100 km away were less likely to be male, have chronic hepatitis B as their cause of liver disease or have hepatocellular carcinoma as their primary indication for LT. Living >100 km from RPAH was associated with fewer face-to-face clinic visits in the first year after LT (10 vs 11 visits, P < 0.001) and fewer readmissions to RPAH (32.4% vs 67.6%, P < 0.001). Distance from RPAH, regional code and socioeconomic code did not affect long-term graft or patient survival based on Kaplan-Meier survival analysis (log-rank P > 0.1).<br />Conclusion: In our single-centre Australian study, patients living farther from their LT centre had different demographics. Distance from the LT centre was not associated with long-term inferior graft or patient survival after LT.<br /> (© 2025 Royal Australasian College of Physicians.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1445-5994
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Internal medicine journal
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
39804035
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1111/imj.16631