Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Organ Donation and Transplantation in Sao Paulo, Brazil

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected donation and transplantation activities in Sao Paulo, Brazil, as well as the patients receiving these organs. In this study, information from the database of the Sao Paulo Organ Allocation System was analyzed and compared 2 periods-before the pandemic and during the pandemic-to identify this effect. The COVID-19 pandemic interfered in the mortality rate and the time on the waiting list for heart, liver, pancreas, lung, and kidney transplants; the number of effective donors; and the use or disposal of available organs from deceased donors. It also reduced the transplant activity with living donors. Regarding the activity of eye tissue transplantation, the time on the waiting list increased and the number of transplant procedures decreased. The kidney transplant program was the most affected in our study. There was an increase in waiting time and mortality in the waiting list for this organ and also a decrease in kidney utilization rates.