Transplant Outcomes and Weight Management in Renal Disease Study

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Transplantation immunology
• Clinical outcomes research

Background:

• Weight changes are common post-renal transplant.
• Understanding the impact of weight fluctuations on transplant success is vital for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the association between weight gain and patient/graft survival in renal transplant recipients over a decade.
• To identify factors influencing weight changes post-transplantation.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study of 716 renal transplant recipients.
• Weight change assessed at 1 year and last follow-up; significant gain defined as >5% increase.
• Statistical analyses included Log Rank, Mantel-Cox tests, and logistic regression.

Main Results:

• 70% gained weight by 1 year (54.1% significant gain), with no survival benefit.
• By last follow-up, 79.3% gained weight (68.7% significant gain), associated with improved graft and patient survival.
• Factors like age, female gender, and CMV viremia influenced weight gain; age, hypertension, and CMV influenced weight loss. Excessive gain leading to obesity reduced survival.

Conclusions:

• Significant weight gain post-renal transplant is prevalent and associated with improved long-term survival.
• Weight monitoring and interventions are recommended to optimize outcomes for renal transplant recipients.
• Excessive weight gain and obesity may negatively impact patient survival post-transplant.