Reintegration Into the Workforce After Kidney Transplantation Based on Urbanization Status in Switzerland

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Transplantation Immunology
• Public Health

Background:

• Kidney transplantation (KT) is the preferred treatment for eligible patients.
• Urban populations often have better access to specialized healthcare, including KT.
• Limited data exists on work reintegration post-KT and its relation to patient residence (urban vs. rural).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of urbanization status on work reintegration after kidney transplantation.
• To analyze recipient and allograft survival and function based on residence.
• To understand patient perspectives on returning to work post-KT in relation to their geographic location.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of the Swiss Transplant Cohort Study (STCS) from 2008-2020.
• Included 1926 patients (18-60 years) who underwent KT.
• Assessed self-reported work reintegration at 1, 3, and 5 years post-KT, stratified by urbanization (urban, suburban, rural).

Main Results:

• 81% of participants returned questionnaires.
• Urban recipients were younger, had longer pre-KT dialysis, and less living donor KT.
• Higher odds of employment 1 year post-KT were found in rural (OR 1.31) and suburban (OR 1.52) residents compared to urban.
• Recipient and graft survival were similar across all urbanization groups.

Conclusions:

• Patient and graft outcomes post-KT were favorable.
• Work reintegration at 1 year was significantly better for recipients from rural areas compared to suburban and urban areas.
• Urbanization status is a relevant factor influencing return to work after kidney transplantation.