Almost half of older patients die awaiting kidney transplant

June 18, 10:28 PMOrgan and Tissue Donor ExaminerCathy Doheny

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The donor kidney is typically placed inferior of the normal anatomical location.*

A study published online today in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN) shows that almost half (46%) of older patients ages 60 and up will die awaiting a kidney transplant from a deceased donor. The study analyzed almost 55,000 patients over age 60 on the kidney transplant waiting list from 1995 until 2007. Projections from the study suggest that 46% of the older patients who entered the wait-list between 2006-2007 will die before receiving a kidney from a deceased donor. Factors such as blood type and being on dialysis at the time of entering the wait list also affected the odds of receiving a transplant.

While the number of patients needing transplants is increasing, the number of donors remains stable. This means that time spent on the wait list, especially for older patients, continues to increase. Though there are many registered organ donors and family members who are willing to consent to donation, there are still a large number of Americans who refuse to do so.

Patients in search of a kidney may actually have better luck trying to find a living donor, who will donate one of their two kidneys. Transplant Living, a United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) website, lists a total of 44% living donors compared to 56% deceased donors comprising all organ donations to date. Living donors may be related, an unrelated friend, a paired donation , or a variety of other types of living donor arrangements.