Since the first successful organ transplant in the 1950’s, this field of medicine has come a long way. Advancements in technology, paired with a more in-depth knowledge of the human body, have allowed for procedures to take place that we never even imagined were possible. From cells to organs, tissues, and even limbs- there is very little that hasn’t been transplanted!
At NiceRx we offer an easy way to access affordable medication, and due to the nature of our company, we are always interested in keeping up with the latest healthcare trends. Available medications include Creon and Prednisone which are commonly affiliated with transplant patients, because of this we wanted to learn more about the current state of transplants in the US.
The states where the most transplants have been performed between 1988-2021
To get an idea of the prevalence of organ transplants in the US, we have put together a list of the total number of transplants performed over the last 34 years across each state.
1
California
As the most populated state in America, it is no surprise that California takes the top spot for the highest number of transplants in the US. With a total of 107,339 transplants performed since 1988, it appears that many lives have been saved here over the years!
2
Texas
With a total of 73,599 total transplants, Texas appears second in this list. If you are a resident of this state (or just interested in learning more about this area) then keep an eye out as this isn’t the only appearance that Texas will make on our transplant report!
3
Pennsylvania
Despite being the fifth most populous state in America, Pennsylvania has performed the third most transplants between 1988-2021 with a total of 63,703. Known for its high-ranking health institutions, it appears that this state is dedicated to helping residents improve their quality of life.
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Rank |
State |
Number of transplants performed |
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The states where the most transplants were performed in 2021
To get a more in-depth understanding of which areas are currently performing the most transplants, we looked at 2021 data - from this we were able to determine which US states performed the most transplants throughout last year.
1
California
In addition to having carried out the most transplants overall, California also takes the top spot for largest number of transplants performed in 2021. With a total of 4,693, it appears that this state shows no sign of slowing down!
2
Texas
Also making its second appearance on this report is the state of Texas with a total of 3,987 transplants carried out in 2021. With a range of affordable healthcare insurance options in Texas, it opens the door for residents who may be otherwise unable to afford said medical services.
3
New York
Despite not making the top three in terms of total number of transplants, New York is among the highest when it comes to those performed in 2021. This state is home to the New York Presbyterian hospital, who have evolved into one of the leading facilities in this field, and have likely contributed to the 3,167 transplants performed in 2021!
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Rank |
State |
Number of transplants performed |
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The states where the most transplants have been performed per 100,000 residents
It may be no surprise that the US states with high populations are the areas that are performing the most transplants - but do the results differ when population is taken into consideration?
1
District of Columbia
Otherwise known as Washington, DC, this state takes the top spot with 1,707 transplants per 100,000 residents. Despite being best known for its government buildings and historic landmarks, it appears that the District of Columbia is also thriving in the field of transplants!
2
Pennsylvania
As well as having the third highest number of total transplants, Pennsylvania is also among the states with the highest number of transplants per 100,000 residents. From their first heart transplant performed in the 1960’s, this state has come a long way in terms of the number of residents whose lives have been saved!
3
Nebraska
Following closely behind Pennsylvania is Nebraska with 481 transplants per 100,000 residents. Medical facilities in this area are known for their work on the treatment of infectious diseases and cancer care, but they have also recently hit the headlines for their breakthroughs in organ transplants.
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Rank |
State |
Number of transplants performed |
Number of transplants per 100,000 residents |
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States most curiousabout transplants
To gain a better understanding about transplants in the US, we also looked at search data to see which states have been using Google the most to find out about organ transplants. The questions that we analysed included ‘how many people are waiting for an organ transplant?’ and ‘when was the first successful organ transplant?’.
1
North Dakota
Topping the table as America's most transplant-inquisitive state is North Dakota with 129.7 searches per 100,000 residents. The largest age demographic in this state is that of 24-35 year-olds who are known for their tech savviness. Given this information, it’s no surprise that these residents are frequently using Google to find out more about this topic.
2
South Dakota
Following in the footsteps of their Northern counterparts, South Dakota also has a high number of transplant related searches. This state is known for its high level of medical education which could explain why the residents here are interested in researching the topic of organ transplants.
3
Alaska
Completing the top three list of states searching most about transplants is Alaska. This state may have a smaller population and lesser amount of total searches when compared to other states, but when relative to the population, Alaska ranks in third place with 125.7 searches per 100,000 residents.
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Rank |
State |
Total number of searches for all transplant questions |
Number of searches per 100,000 residents |
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States with the most organ donors
As a country with an opt-in system for organ donations, US residents are not obligated to give their organs after death. As a result, we were interested to see which states have the highest percentage of residents on their respective donor lists. Data was unavailable for six US states, thus these were removed from the ranking.
1
Iowa
Iowa tops the list as having the highest percentage of residents on the organ donor list. Being depicted as one of the safest states to live in America, it's no surprise that a large proportion of Iowa’s residents are taking steps to look after the health of others.
2
Colorado
In order to raise awareness about how to become an organ donor, it is important to educate residents. This, paired with the fact that Colorado is one of the most educated of all the states, could explain why 69% of its residents are on the organ donor list!
3
Illinois
Just below Colorado in the ranking, with a total of 65% of residents on the donor list, is Illinois. One of the leading causes of death among people in this state are accidents, and as injuries are a reason that someone may need a transplant, it suggests that this is an element of importance across the area.
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Rank |
State |
% of residents on organ donor list |
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Most in-demand organs in US
As a result of lifestyle factors and complexity of transplant procedures, some organs are more commonly transplanted than others. Below is a list of the most in-demand organs across the US as of 2021.
1
Kidney
Making up 60.39% of all transplants performed in the US during 2021, kidneys appear to be the organ currently most sought after. Kidney failure can be the result of diabetes, old age and high blood pressure- all of which are common in the US.
2
Liver
Taking the second spot in terms of the most in-demand organs, and accounting for 21.83% of all transplants in the US during 2021, is the liver. This organ has a high regenerative capacity which allows for partial liver transplants to be carried out. As a result, the liver can be slightly less complex to perform which could explain why it comes in second place.
3
Heart
Completing the top three list is the heart, which makes up 9.30% of all transplants in the US during 2021. Even though this organ may not be the most in-demand, it is arguably one of the most important. Heart related illnesses are common across America, with heart disease being the current leading cause of death among this population. Despite this, the transplant process for this organ is complicated and organ donors are limited.
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Rank |
State |
Number of transplants performed |
Percentage of total transplants |
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