Does obesity have an impact on kidney transplant outcomes?

A new study sheds light on the potential impacts of obesity on health outcomes in kidney transplant recipients. The study will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2018 October 23-October 28 at the San Diego Convention Center.

The prevalence of obesity is increasing in prospective kidney transplant recipients. To examine the potential effect on long-term health outcomes, Bhavna Chopra, MD (Allegheny General Hospital) and her colleagues analyzed information from the United Network for Organ Sharing database from 2006 to 2016 concerning recipients at different levels of body mass index (BMI). To minimize the impact of donor variables on transplant outcomes, the team used a paired kidney model in which kidneys from the same deceased donor were transplanted into recipients in different BMI categories.

Concerning delayed organ function, patients with ideal BMI (18-25) had the lowest risk, and the risk rose with increasing BMI categories; yet there was no difference in patient survival across different BMI groups.

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