Korean J Transplant.  2020 Dec;34(Supple 1):S76. 10.4285/ATW2020.OP-1275.

Outcomes of renal transplant in elderly

• Anne A
• Bandi VK

• KMID: 2509224
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4285/ATW2020.OP-1275

Abstract

Background
The number of people requiring renal replacement therapy is on a rise, and the elderly population is among the rapidly growing groups, especially in the western world.
Methods
All renal transplants done at our center between 2004 to 2018 were reviewed. Transplant recipients with age >60 years were included for analysis and follow-up data was collected. Patients with incomplete data were excluded from analysis.
Results
A total of 22 patients were identified, of whom four were excluded due to incomplete data. The mean age was 63 years, with one among the 18 recipients being female. The 72.2% were between 60–64 years of age, while 22.2% were between 65–69 years of age, and one was >70 years of age. Live transplant was done in 44.4%, with wife and son being most common donors (16.7% each), followed by one each from daughter and brother. The 1-, 3-, and 7-year patient survival were 83.3%, 66.7%, and 25% respectively, while 1-, 3-, and 7-year graft survival were 88.9%, 60%, and 25%, respectively. Death with a functioning graft was present in 27.8% of patients. The patient and graft survival at 3 years were better with live donors compared to deceased donors. The major causes for mortality were sepsis (50%) followed by cardiovascular death (31.3%), with respiratory infection being the most common cause of sepsis related death (25%). The cost analysis of patients receiving renal replacement therapy showed high initial costs with renal transplant, which reduced over long term and equals that of hemodialysis by about 26 months post-transplant.
Conclusions
With ageing general population, physicians are expected to make increasing number of decisions regarding transplantation candidacy in elderly patients. Elderly patients have good survival with kidney transplantation, and it also an economically more viable option.