Trend in Deceased Organ Donors
The number of deceased
organ donors in Canada has seen a significant increase from
553 donors in 2013 to
827 donors in 2022, marking a substantial growth over the decade. The highest number was recorded in
2022, indicating a positive trend in deceased organ donations.
Fluctuations in Living Organ Donors
Living organ donors have experienced fluctuations over the years, with the number starting at
585 in 2013, reaching a peak of
614 in 2019, and then adjusting to
576 in 2022. Despite these variations, living donors have consistently contributed significantly to organ donations.
Comparison of Donor Types
Throughout the years, deceased organ donors have generally been fewer than living donors, with a reversal of this trend starting in
2016. Since then, deceased donors have outnumbered living donors, with the gap widening to
251 more deceased donors than living donors in 2022.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic's impact is evident in the decrease of both deceased and living organ donors in
2020. Deceased donors dropped to
731 from
820 in the previous year, and living donors saw a significant decrease to
490, the lowest in the observed period.
Recovery and Growth Post-Pandemic
Post-pandemic recovery is noticeable, with deceased
donor numbers rebounding to
736 in 2021 and peaking at
827 in 2022. Living donors also showed resilience with a recovery to
594 in 2021, though not reaching pre-pandemic levels, demonstrating the organ donation sector's ability to bounce back.
Long-term Trends and Year-to-Year Variability
While there has been significant growth in the number of deceased donors over the decade, living donors have shown more year-to-year variability. This trend underscores the complexity of factors influencing individuals' decisions to become living organ donors, as opposed to the more steady increase in deceased donors which may reflect broader societal or policy changes.
Critical Role of Living Donors in 2013-2015
In the early years of the observed period (
2013-2015), living donors outnumbered deceased donors, highlighting the critical role they played in organ donations during those years. The transition to more deceased donors than living donors in subsequent years marks a significant shift in the
organ donation landscape in Canada.