Age: an indicator of willingness to donate?

Answers to the question about consent for organ donation on the Queensland Transport Driver's Licence Database were reviewed to determine if age is an indicator of willingness to donate. As of November 1994, the database contained records on 1,969,382 persons (54% male, 46% female), accounting for 86.7% of the population 17 years of age or older. Fifty-four percent had answered yes to the question; 46% had indicated no or had not answered. The data were divided into three groups, males only, females only, and males plus females, and then subgrouped by age. The number of subjects who had not answered the question was included in the number who had answered no. In the males-plus-females group, the percentage of yes answers by age remained relatively constant (56%-62%) for persons 17 to 49 years old but decreased to 39% for persons 70 years old. The data for males only and females only showed a similar decrease. Slightly more females than males had answered yes among persons 17 to 49 years old (mean difference, 5%; range, 1%-8%). This difference decreased with age. A higher willingness to donate in the younger age groups may augur well for the future. The data indicate that more attention must be given to persons 50 years of age and older to increase their awareness of their ability to donate.