Disparities in transplant access and outcomes after first cirrhosis decompensation in alcohol-related liver disease

This study provides the first national-level evidence from a European country showing that patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis, particularly women and those from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, experience lower access to liver transplantation and higher liver-related mortality. These findings could be important for clinicians, researchers, and health policymakers seeking to improve equity in transplant access within universal healthcare systems. While our study does not capture all clinical or psychosocial determinants of transplant eligibility, it highlights systemic disparities that could be mitigated through national referral protocols, standardised patient evaluations, and targeted support for vulnerable populations. Future work should integrate clinical data and patient-reported outcomes to further refine these observations and guide practice change.