[Socioeconomic justification of kidney transplantation].
OBJECTIVE
In recent years, the socioeconomic aspects of renal transplantation have focused the attention of the managers of the health care system and the professionals involved in transplant programs. The present study analyzed, within the context of renal transplantation, the two fundamental concepts of health care: quality of life and health costs.


METHODS
A survey was conducted in 427 patients who underwent renal transplantation to evaluate the improvement in their quality of life.


RESULTS
93% referred physical improvement, 85% emotional, and 85% subjective improvement in their family relationship. Considering 9% of the kidneys were not viable, 15% of the grafts were lost in the first year and 4% thereafter, the cost of transplantation for the first year (in million pesetas) was 3,597 versus 2,961 for hemodialysis and 905 for the second year, with hemodialysis costs practically unchanged.


CONCLUSIONS
Renal transplantation not only increases survival but also improves quality of life. It is less costly and the savings in health costs can be allocated to other fields of health care.
Pertusa Peña
C
C
Servicio de Urología, Hospital de Cruces, Bilbao, España.
Arruza Echevarría
A
A
Zabala Egurrola
J A
JA
Darpon Sierra
J
J
Aranzábal López
J
J
D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000191:economics*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors