Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is the most common indication for liver transplantation among the elderly: Data from the United States Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients

• Published in: Hepatology communications 2022-07, Vol.6 (7), p.1506-1515
• Main Authors: Stepanova, Maria, Kabbara, Khaled, Mohess, Denise, Verma, Manisha, Roche‐Green, Alva, AlQahtani, Saleh, Ong, Janus, Burra, Patrizia, Younossi, Zobair M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Age; Aged; Ascites; Body mass index; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - epidemiology; Cholangitis; Diabetes; End Stage Liver Disease - surgery; Etiology; Hepatitis; Hispanic people; Humans; Liver cancer; Liver diseases; Liver Neoplasms - epidemiology; Liver Transplantation - adverse effects; Liver transplants; Male; Medicare; Mortality; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease - epidemiology; Original; Patients; Peritonitis; Registries; Severity of Illness Index; Transplant Recipients; Trends; United States - epidemiology; Waiting Lists
• ISSN: 2471-254X; 2471-254X
• DOI: 10.1002/hep4.1915

As the US population ages, more elderly patients may need liver transplantation. Our aim was to assess recent trends among elderly individuals requiring liver transplant in the United States. Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients data (2002–2020) were used to select elderly (≥65 years) liver transplant candidates and assess on‐list and posttransplant outcomes. During the study period, 31,209 liver transplant candidates ≥65 years were wait listed. Common etiologies included nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH; 31%), hepatitis C (23%), and alcoholic liver disease (18%); 30% also had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Over time, the proportion of patients ≥65 years among all adult liver transplant candidates increased from 9% (2002–2005) to 23% (2018–2020) (trend, p