Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41348495›Full record

ArticleKidney3602026

Health Care Utilization in Elderly Deceased Donor Kidney Transplant Recipients: Does Kidney Donor Profile Index Matter?

Rachana Punukollu, Yu-Hui Chang, Sumi S Nair, Lavanya Kodali, Bassam G Abu Jawdeh, Amit K Mathur, Girish Mour

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Kidney360, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Rachana PunukolluDivision of Nephrology, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona.
Yu-Hui ChangDepartment of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona.
Sumi S NairDivision of Nephrology, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona.
Lavanya KodaliDivision of Nephrology, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona.ORCID 0000-0003-4141-7243
Bassam G Abu JawdehDivision of Nephrology, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona.ORCID 0000-0002-1530-6665
Amit K MathurDivision of Transplant Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona.ORCID 0000-0002-9215-2014
Girish MourDivision of Nephrology, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona.ORCID 0000-0003-3764-0047

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

key pointsHealth care utilization rates in elderly kidney transplant were no different between the high kidney donor profile index and low kidney donor profile index group. Number of readmissions and surgical interventions in elderly kidney transplant was no different between the high kidney donor profile index and low kidney donor profile index group. Death censored graft loss was higher in the high kidney donor profile index group, whereas the patient survival was no different between the high kidney donor profile index and low kidney donor profile index groups.

backgroundHigh kidney donor profile index (KDPI) kidneys (KDPI >85%) are often associated with increased risks of post-kidney transplant (KT) complications and greater health care utilization (HCU), particularly in elderly recipients with multiple comorbidities. These concerns frequently lead to underutilization of high KDPI kidneys in older transplant candidates, thereby limiting their access to transplantation despite potential clinical benefits. The aim of this study was to compare post-KT HCU between elderly recipients of high versus low KDPI deceased donor kidneys. The primary outcome included differences in hospital readmissions, surgical interventions, and outpatient service use at multiple post-transplant time points. Secondary outcome included graft function, graft survival, and patient survival.

methodsA retrospective analysis of elderly solitary KT recipients (age ≥65 years) between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2020. Patients were stratified into high KDPI (>85%, n =160) and low KDPI (≤85%, n =453) groups. We assessed inpatient and outpatient HCU, including readmissions at 30, 90, and 365 days post-transplant, surgical interventions, and outpatient visits (emergency department, transplant clinic, endocrine clinic, and ambulatory infusion units).

resultsThere were no statistically significant differences between high and low KDPI groups in rates of hospital readmissions, surgical interventions, or outpatient visits (all P > 0.05). Delayed graft function rates were also similar ( P = 0.61). The low KDPI group had significantly higher eGFR at 4 months, 1, 2, and 3 years post-transplant (all P < 0.001). However, days alive and out of the hospital within 90 and 365 days post-transplant were comparable between the groups (all P > 0.05). Overall patient survival was similar ( P = 0.08), although death-censored graft loss was significantly higher in the high KDPI group ( P = 0.001).

conclusionsAmong elderly KT recipients, high KDPI kidney recipients had comparable post-transplant HCU and overall survival with those receiving low KDPI kidneys, despite lower long-term graft function. These findings suggest that high KDPI kidneys remain a viable option for older patients, offering timely access to transplantation.

Indexed as

Kidney TransplantationPatient Acceptance of Health CarePostoperative ComplicationsTissue DonorsAgedAge FactorsFemaleGraft SurvivalHumansMaleMiddle AgedPatient ReadmissionRetrospective Studiesdeceased donor organ transplantationeconomic analysiseconomic impacthealth policykidney transplantationoutcomesrenal transplantationsurvival

Identifiers

PMID41348495
PMCPMC13065166

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.