Racial/ethnic disparity in kidney transplantation outcomes: Influence of donor and recipient characteristics

Eyob Feyssa, Charlotte Jones-Burton, Gary Ellison, Benjamin Philosophe, Charles Howell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the basis for the racial/ethnic disparity in kidney allograft survival. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 2130 patients who underwent kidney transplantation between January 1995 and December 2003. Patient and graft survivals were compared using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results: Black recipients were more likely than white recipients to have hepatitis C infection (24.6% vs 7.1%), current tobacco use (21.2% vs 13.1%), previous alcohol use (22.6% vs 9.7%), and past illicit drug use (13.6% vs 3.9%). Current employment was less common among blacks. Additionally, black recipients were more likely to have a prior kidney transplant (16.7% vs 11.0%) and to have a cadaver kidney donor (74% vs 56.5%). The 5-year allograft survival rate was 72% for whites and 59% for blacks (p<.01). Previous kidney transplantation, cadaveric donor, donor age, recipient employment status, and recipient tobacco use were associated with allograft survival in a Cox proportional hazard model. Conclusions: Graft survival rate in black kidney transplant recipients is significantly lower than whites, and this disparity can be partially explained by the low rate of live donors and a higher previous transplantation rate in blacks.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)111-115
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of the National Medical Association
Volume101
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Kidney
  • Race/ethnicity
  • Racial disparities
  • Survival
  • Tobacco
  • Transplantation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine(all)

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