Impact of Share 35 liver transplantation allocation in Australia and New Zealand

Abstract

Patients with high model for end‐stage liver disease (MELD) scores waiting for liver transplantation in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) have had limited access to deceased donor livers and therefore binational sharing of livers, for patients with a MELD score ≥35 was introduced in February 2016. Waiting list mortality, post‐transplant outcomes and intention‐to‐treat survival were compared between patients whose MELD score reached 35 on the waiting list between October 2013 and April 2015 (Pre‐Share 35 group, n = 23) and patients who were Share 35 listed between February 2016 and May 2022 (Share 35 group, n = 112). There was significantly reduced waiting list mortality in share 35 listed patients in comparison to the pre‐Share 35 group (11.7% vs. 52.2%, OR .120 95% CI .044–.328, P < .001). Post‐transplant patient and graft survival were not significantly different between the groups (5‐year patient survival 82% vs. 84%, P = .991, 5‐year graft survival 82% vs. 76%, P = .543). Intention‐to‐treat survival was superior in the Share 35 group (HR .302, 95% CI .149–.614, P < .001). Introduction of Share 35 in ANZ resulted in a 78% risk reduction in waiting list mortality, equivalent post‐transplant survival and an improvement in intention‐to‐treat survival.