Long-Term Body Mass Index Changes Following Kidney Transplantation: Predictors Over a 10-Year Follow-Up.

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Transplantation Medicine
• Metabolic Health

Background:

• Kidney transplantation (kTx) is a vital treatment for chronic kidney disease (CKD).
• Body Mass Index (BMI) can change significantly after kTx due to various factors.
• Understanding long-term BMI changes is crucial for patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the long-term effects of Body Mass Index (BMI) changes post-kidney transplantation.
• To identify factors contributing to BMI fluctuations in kidney graft recipients.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal follow-up of 109 living kidney graft recipients.
• Analysis of Body Mass Index (BMI) changes and achievement of normal BMI.
• Multivariate logistic regression including age, smoking, diabetes, and immunosuppression as covariates.

Main Results:

• Mean BMI increased by +1.57 kg/m² (p < 0.001).
• Younger patients (<30 years) showed the largest BMI increase (+2.45 kg/m²).
• Younger age was the primary factor for BMI increase (OR=0.91, p=0.008); smoking and diabetes were associated with lower odds of normal BMI.

Conclusions:

• Younger kidney transplant recipients are more prone to significant BMI increase.
• Age-specific strategies are necessary to prevent excessive weight gain after kidney transplantation.