According to Donate Life America and the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), the number of patients on the United States waiting list for organ transplants has grown at a steady rate and reached 97,670 as of Dec. 31, 2007. In comparison, five years ago, there were 80,790 patients on the waiting list, and 10 years ago there were 53,167 patients on the waiting list. The result is an increase of almost 84 percent in 10 years.
 
The longest organ specific waiting list is for kidney donations, with more than 75,000 people currently waiting for a transplant.  UNOS and Donate Life America are encouraging donation sign-up at the state level. Donate Life America offers a directory with details by state at www.donatelife.net.

This article originally appeared in the May 2008 issue of Kidney Transplant Today.