"In 2008, there were 492 deceased donors, which is surprisingly low given the number of eligible deaths that occur in Canada annually and falls well behind international standards," says Dr. Sam Shemie, Medical Director (Donation), Organs and Tissues, Canadian Blood Services. "People who die after catastrophic brain injuries, such as trauma and strokes, typically provide the largest proportion of deceased donors in Canada. As mortality rates from these injuries are reduced, hospital services must become more effective and efficient in identifying and managing donors in order to increase the number of transplants. Public health policies to encourage people to express their wishes to be organ donors will also help improve the situation."

Last year, about 215 Canadians died while waiting for an organ transplant.

Living donors most likely to be relatives, increasing in age

CIHI's study found that living donors are most likely to be relatives and family friends who have a close relationship with the recipient. Blood relatives accounted for almost two-thirds (64%) of living donors in 2008, while spouses accounted for 16%. In addition, one in six (17%) living donors were unrelated to the recipients.

This year's study also found an increase in the average age of living donors in Canada. While most living donors are younger than 55 years of age, the greatest increase in the number of living donors occurred in the 55-and-over age category, which experienced a 61% increase.

Technological advancements are changing the scope of organ donation

While most organs are retrieved after a patient is deemed to be brain dead, referred to as neurological death, four provinces (British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia) are now retrieving organs for donation after cardiac death. Cardiac death is defined as the irreversible absence of circulatory and respiratory function. The number of organ donations following cardiac death is growing, but still remains quite small. In 2008, fewer than 10% of donors were donors after cardiac death.

"We are seeing an increase in the number of donated organs, along with changing demographics of donors and technological advancements leading to donation following cardiac death," says Claire Marie Fortin, Manager of Clinical Registries at CIHI.

Source: CANADIAN INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH INFORMATION