MO985: Physical Function Trajectories Predict Patient Survival in Older Recipients of Deceased Donor Kidneys

Abstract

Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIMS Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes have been positively associated with patient survival after kidney transplantation (KT). In older recipients, poor HRQOL may indicate risk for clinical deterioration. We aimed to prospectively evaluate if, in older recipients of deceased brain-dead donor (DBD) kidneys, changes in HRQOL during the first year post-transplantation differed between survivor and non-survivors. METHOD KT candidates aged ≥65 years who were enlisted between January 2013 and November 2016 at the Norwegian national transplant center and received a deceased brain-dead donor (DBD) kidney were included. HRQOL was assessed using the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form, version 1.3. HRQOL outcomes were collected prior to KT, at 10 weeks, 6 months and 12 months post-KT. A mixed-effect linear regression model was used to examine the development of HRQOL during the first year post-KT in survivors versus non-survivors. Longitudinal HRQOL trajectories were identified using a group-based trajectory modelling. A Cox proportional hazard regression was used to investigate the association of longitudinal HRQOL trajectories for each domain with patient survival. RESULTS We included 289 waitlisted candidates, of whom 192 received a DBD kidney. Mean age at KT was 72 (4.1) years, 133 (69%) were males, 47 (24%) were transplanted preemptively and 80% received an expanded criteria donor organ. During a median observation time of 4.6 (3.2, 6.3) years post-KT, 66 recipients died. In survivors, all the generic and kidney-specific HRQOL domains substantially improved during the first year post-KT, whereas HRQOL deteriorated in non-survivors (Figure 1). Three developmental trajectories, describing poor, fair and good outcomes were identified for most of the HRQOL domains. Recipients perceiving poor physical development during the first post-transplant year had a 2.5 higher mortality risk, while recipients with fair physical development had 1.4 increased mortality risk, compared with recipients with good physically development (Figure 2). CONCLUSION In elderly kidney transplant recipients, poor post-transplant physical function trajectory may indicate impaired survival. The systematic HRQOL monitoring following KT is warranted to identify high-risk patients and guide therapeutic decisions.