Impact of Patient Characteristics and Comorbidity Profile on Activation of Patients on the Kidney Transplantation Waiting List

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to examine which demographic and comorbidity factors affected the activation of patients with end-stage renal disease on the national kidney transplantation waiting list.MethodsThis was a prospective cohort study across 13 transplantation centers in the United Kingdom from October 1, 2006 to September 30, 2007. Data were collected for all new adult patients (n = 1530) referred to the renal transplantation assessment clinic. The proportion of patients who were activated to the waiting list after a minimum one year follow-up was estimated. Factors influencing activation of patients on the waiting list were examined.ResultsA total of 872 (58.9%) patients were activated to the transplantation waiting list. The likelihood of activation to the transplantation waiting list was lower in patients older than 65 years (P = .021), nonwhite ethnicity (P < .0001), smokers (P < .0001), and those in whom diabetes was the cause of renal failure (P = .004). Multivariate analysis showed that there was an adverse impact of comorbidity such as ischemic heart disease (P = .003), diabetes (P = .006), and peripheral vascular disease (P = .007) on the likelihood of activation to the waiting list.ConclusionPatient characteristics and comorbidity are associated with the probability of activation of patients to the waiting list.