Organ procurement and transplantation during the COVID-19 pandemic

End-stage organ failure is estimated to affect more than six million people worldwide.1 In 2018, transplant systems across the world enabled around 150 000 patients to benefit from a kidney, heart, lung, liver, or other solid organ—a number far less than the demand. According to data from WHO, more than 1 500 000 people live with a transplanted organ worldwide. Because of the overwhelming health-care system burden of the COVID-19 pandemic, a pronounced negative effect on worldwide organ donation and transplantation is anticipated but has not been measured.