After 33 years as world leader in transplantsSpain once again breaks its own record and reaches 6,464 operations of this type in 2024. The solidarity and empathy of the Spanish people is indisputable, but in addition to the concern and initiative to help, there is a clear reason behind Spain’s leadership in the organ transplant. Thus, the rate of this type of operations stood at 132.8 per million populationthe highest recorded to date.
Although he kidney transplant It is the most common in Spain, this is not the one that has increased the most in the last year, but lung cancer. The percentage of this type of operations has increased by 30%, something that could be related to the increase in infections and respiratory diseases. Likewise, more than 4,000 kidney transplantsincreased by 7% in the cardiac area and 6% in the liver. Although it’s not all good news.
The two types of transplants that reduce your numbers
In general terms, the situation is worth celebrating, but it is true that there are two types of transplants that have reduced their numbers this last year. This is a pancreas transplant and intestinal transplants: Of the latter, only five have been made, two less than in 2023. All these figures are thanks to the more than 2,500 deceased donorsfrom which it is possible to extract a donor profile. Most of them are over 60, and the oldest He was 88 years old. The most common cause of death is stroke, while 5% died from traffic accidents.
The reason for death is one of the main differences compared to other countries: in states like USAthere are many young people and fatalities who died from gunshot wounds, accidents or fentanylan opioid that has gained ground internationally in recent years. And although Spain is at the top of the rankingconcern and solidarity also grows in other countries. These are the ones who – after Spain – donated the most organs in 2024:
- USA
- Italia
- France
- Sweden
- United Kingdom
Canada is the sixth country on the globe with the most organs transplanted last year, followed by Australia and Germany. Meanwhile, in Spain the controversy euthanasia has also played an important role in this whole situation. After learning of their poor prognosis, 154 people made this decision, something that allowed 442 patients to receive transplants.
More children and patients waiting
The other side of the coin It also deserves to be mentioned and valued. It is clear that the increase in organ transplants last year is positive, but these data contrast with those of the waiting lists of Spanish hospitals and clinics. As of December 31, 2024, the number of patients awaiting their time to enter the operating room and receive an organ transplant amounted to 5.096 personasof which 73 were children. This is 2.4% more than in 2023.
The communities where the most people have donated their organs have been Cantabria, Navarra, Murcia and Extremadura. They are followed by the Canary Islands, Castilla y León, Andalusia, the Valencian Community and La Rioja, although Asturias, the Basque Country and Galicia have also exceeded fifty donors per million population. When talking about hospitals, The Peace of Madrid has been the center that leads this type of operations in children, while the Virgen de Arrixaca, in Murcia, registered the highest number of transplants overall.
Source: www.vozpopuli.com
