ASN's Mission

To create a world without kidney diseases, the ASN Alliance for Kidney Health elevates care by educating and informing, driving breakthroughs and innovation, and advocating for policies that create transformative changes in kidney medicine throughout the world.

learn more

Contact ASN

1401 H St, NW, Ste 900, Washington, DC 20005

email@asn-online.org

202-640-4660

The Latest on X

Kidney Week

Please note that you are viewing an archived section from 2023 and some content may be unavailable. To unlock all content for 2023, please visit the archives.

Abstract: TH-PO889

Health-Related Quality of Life in Altruistic vs. Directed Kidney Donors

Session Information

Category: Transplantation

  • 2102 Transplantation: Clinical

Authors

  • Hod, Tamar, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
  • Vital, Assaf, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
  • Askenasy, Enosh Mordkay, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Tel Aviv, Israel
  • Ghinea, Ronen, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Tel Aviv, Israel
  • Mor, Eytan, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Tel Aviv, Israel
Background

Despite the significant increase in the rate of living kidney donation, there has been a lack of sufficient investigation into the post-donation health related quality of life (HRQoL) of altruistic donors (ADs) in comparison to directed donors (DDs).

Methods

We analyzed 112 living kidney donors (82 ADs and 30 DDs) who completed a SF-12 questionnaire and four supplementary questions. We compared the PCS and MCS scores between the two groups and examined secondary outcomes such as admission length of stay (LOS), time to return to normal activity and to physical activity, pre- and post-donation exercise rates, and physical activity continuation post-donation.

Results

Living kidney donors had higher mean PCS-12 and MCS-12 scores compared to the general population, with significantly higher scores in ADs than DDs (p<0.001). ADs returned to physical activity sooner than DDs (45 vs. 60 days), exercised more before and after donation, and continued post-donation. ADs had shorter admission LOS (3.4 vs. 4.4 days, p<0.001). Multivariable regression analyses revealed donation type and WBC count predicted PCS-12 score (altruistic vs. DDs: +2.69 (1.02), p=0.01) and donation type predicted MCS-12 score (altruistic vs. DDs: +4.43 (1.53), p=0.005). Altruistic donation type predicted a shorter LOS (by 0.78 days, p<0.001) and the odds of having PCS-12 and MCS-12 scores above 50 were almost 10 and 16 times higher in ADs, respectively (p<0.05).

Conclusion

ADs exhibit significantly higher physical and mental HRQoL compared to DDs post-donation, indicating the safety and potential benefits of promoting altruistic donation. However, it is essential to maintain a careful selection process to prevent any harm and ensure that donors’ genuine desire to help others is not exploited.

SF-12 questionnaire results