Abstract Purpose This analysis aims to provide a comprehensive overview of lung transplantation trends in the United States from January 1, 1988, through January 31, 2025. By examining key variables such as recipient ABO blood group, donor type (deceased or living), demographic factors, and geographic distribution, the goal is to highlight the evolution and current state of lung transplantation practices. Methods Data were obtained from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), encompassing all reported lung transplants during the specified time period. Relevant metrics included the number of transplants per year, recipient characteristics (blood type, race/ethnicity, gender, and age), donor type (deceased versus living), and state-level transplant volumes. Simple descriptive statistics (e.g., frequencies and percentages) were used to identify trends and capture the distribution of transplants among different demographic groups and geographic regions. Results A total of 55,435 lung transplants were performed in the United States between 1988 and early 2025. The vast majority (over 99%) utilized deceased donors, underscoring the limited role of living-donor lobar transplantation, with only 253 procedures reported nationally. Among recipients, ABO blood group O was the most common (∼45%), followed by group A (∼40%), group B (∼11%), and group AB (∼4%). Male recipients represented approximately 57% of transplants, while females accounted for 43%. Regarding race/ethnicity, White non-Hispanic patients constituted roughly 80% of all recipients, with Black non-Hispanic (8%) and Hispanic/Latino (8%) recipients forming smaller but significant proportions. Age distribution data revealed that individuals aged 50 to 64 years received nearly half of all lung transplants, and those over 65 years composed about a quarter of total recipients, reflecting a gradual shift in acceptance criteria favoring older adults. Geographically, California reported the highest volume of lung transplants, attributable to its large population and multiple high-volume transplant centers, while other states such as Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, and Missouri also demonstrated notable activity. Conclusion Lung transplantation in the United States has witnessed substantial expansion in both volume and scope since 1988, with the majority of procedures involving deceased donor lungs. A small number of living-donor lung transplants, while demonstrating innovative clinical possibilities, remains limited. The demographic profile of recipients continues to shift, evidenced by a growing proportion of older adults and a predominance of ABO type O and White, non-Hispanic recipients. Despite these advancements, persistent gaps in access, particularly among underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, highlight the need for further refinement in organ allocation policies and broader support services. This abstract is funded by: None
Chinnamuthu et al. (2026) studied this question.