Epidemiology of Complications After Solid Organ Transplantation - EpCOT Study

Plain-language summary

Cancer remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality post solid organ transplantation. While mortality from the other leading causes of death post-transplantation (e.g. cardiovascular disease and infection) is declining, mortality from cancer post-transplantation is increasing (1). This is due to both general and transplant-specific risk factors that combine to increase risk for cancer compared to the general population. However, there is a shortage of research exploring cancer epidemiology post solid organ transplantation in the UK. This is essential to guide clinicians and for counseling patients regarding expectations and outcomes after developing cancer post-transplantation. This is especially important as the aetiology, pathophysiology and outcomes of cancer post-transplantation may differ from the general population. Available data registries in the UK separately contain valuable cancer and transplant-specific data that can be combined to explore cancer epidemiology post-transplantation more comprehensively, which can be directly translated into patient benefit by utilizing transplant-specific data (rather than translating from general population or non-UK patient demographics). The purpose of this project is to combine existing data resources to link up the complete patient journey for solid organ transplant recipients and focus on the entire spectrum of cancer from incidence to mortality. In addition, we can use this linked dataset to explore many non-cancer related complications after solid organ transplantation. This will help us better understand the complete burden of disease after transplantation (which may be competing risks for development of cancer) and help improve delivery of effective post-transplant care for UK solid organ transplant patients.

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