Long-term Kidney Transplant Survival Across the Globe

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Transplant Surgery
• Public Health

Background:

• Kidney transplantation (KT) outcomes, including access and wait times, have been studied globally.
• Significant variations exist in KT practices and outcomes among different countries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze global variations in kidney transplantation (KT) rates, donor types, and posttransplant survival.
• To identify key challenges affecting KT access and long-term graft survival worldwide.

Main Methods:

• Collected data on KT from North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
• Analyzed transplant rates per million population (pmp), living donor (LD) and deceased donor (DD) proportions, and 5-year graft survival.
• Gathered expert opinions on KT challenges and long-term survival issues.

Main Results:

• The US and Spain showed the highest KT rates pmp. Japan and India had a high proportion of LD transplants.
• Spain, Brazil, and France reported a high proportion of DD transplants. South Korea and Singapore demonstrated excellent 5-year graft survival for both LD and DD.
• Common issues include limited donor availability (LD and DD). Factors affecting long-term survival involve donor/recipient age, comorbidities, and posttransplant complications.

Conclusions:

• Global kidney transplantation (KT) outcomes exhibit considerable disparities.
• Addressing challenges in KT access, donor shortages, and recipient factors is crucial.
• A coordinated global strategy is essential to meet the rising demand for kidney transplants and improve patient outcomes.