2024 was a record year for transplants in Italy, organ donations increased (2110 with a +2,7% compared to 2023), as did the number of transplants performed: 4.692, 226 more than in 2023
These are the highest values ever recorded. These are the data that emerge from the Report on donations and transplants in Italy presented today to the Ministry of Health. About half of the transplants (2.393) were kidneys (+6,6% compared to 2023); heart transplants were 418 (+13%).
On the rise transplants of the liver, 1.732 (+1,8%), while those of the lung decreased slightly (from 188 to 174); those of the pancreas were stable (36).
The main driver of heart transplants last year was the growth in donations from non-cardiac heart failure, i.e. donations from patients whose death is confirmed after cardiac arrest lasting at least 20 minutes: donations of this type increased by 30,8% compared to 2023 (276) and the resulting transplants by 39,3% (621).
In 2024, those from non-heart-beating donations accounted for 13,2% of all transplants performed. As for donations, in 2024, the donation rate rose to 30,2 donors per million people, exceeding 30 for the first time, a level that places our country among the top European places for organ donations.
The regions with the highest rate of donations are Tuscany (49,4 donors per million), Emilia-Romagna (45,5) and Veneto (44,7). However, there is also significant growth in the southern regions (Sicily +5,7 points per million, Campania +3,1, Calabria +2,7).
In 2024, the highest number ever was reached for donations (410) and transplants (1.095) of hematopoietic stem cells from non-relatives. In almost 90% of cases, the cells were taken from peripheral blood, the least invasive method, very similar to a blood donation.
The growth trend of bone marrow donors is also positive: for the first time, active members of the IBMDR registry (i.e. people available to donate) have exceeded half a million (512.194, +3,1%).
Article published on 13 January 2025 - 13:34
