Liver Donations and Transplants in the State of Paraná, Brazil

The increase in the waiting list for a liver and the high mortality rate of patients with terminal liver disease represent serious public health problems in Brazil. To analyze donations and liver transplants in the State of Paraná, Brazil. A cross-sectional study was carried out with data from 3931 reports of deaths due to brain death and 8146 solid organ transplants made available by the State Transplant System of Paraná between 2011 and 2016. The data related to donation and liver transplantation were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inference. A total of 751 (28.9%) liver donations were carried out. Of these, the greatest chance of effectiveness occurred in patients younger than 50 years OR: 1.94 (CI: 1.60–2.34; P < .01) and male OR: 1.27 (CI: 1.06–1.52; P < .01). A total of 720 (8.8%) liver transplants were performed, most of which were funded by the Unified Health System. There was a significant increase in donations and liver transplants over the years. Donor numbers and liver transplants increased in the State but did not meet the need for the waiting list within the analyzed period. •The liver donation and transplant process increased significantly between 2011 and 2016.•Liver donation was more likely to be effective in donors who were male and younger than 50 years of age.•Most of the transplants were funded by the Unified Health System and were most often performed in double-management hospitals belonging to the high-complexity transplantation centers located in the eastern macroregion of the State of Paraná, Brazil.