Variables affecting weight gain in renal transplant recipients

Previous studies of renal transplant recipients have suggested that weight gain after transplantation is relatively common, especially among certain populations. We conducted a retrospective review of 977 renal transplant recipients at the University of Alabama at Birmingham to identify patterns of weight change (as mean percentage of body weight at transplantation) attributed to race, sex, income, age at transplantation, pretransplantation time on dialysis, incidence of diabetes, rejection episode(s), and/or obesity (body mass index >/= 30 kg/m(2)) at transplantation. Patients were evaluated at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months posttransplantation and at 2 and 3 years, when available. Univariate analysis at 1 year showed that blacks achieved a greater weight change than whites (P = 0.0004), women had greater gains than men (P = 0.0001), and low-income patients had greater mean gains versus medium- (P = 0.0001) and high-income patients (P = 0.0001). Advancing age and weight gain were inversely correlated (P = 0.0002). Having one or more rejection episode indicated less weight gain than having no rejection episode (P = 0.0220). Incidence of diabetes or time on dialysis was not a significant predictor of weight gain. Black race, female sex, low income, younger age, and no incidence of rejection episodes were significantly associated with weight gain at 1 year in the multivariate analysis.