Kidney transplant outcomes in the indigenous population in the Northern Territory of Australia.
BACKGROUND
Indigenous Australians develop end-stage renal disease (ESRD) at a significantly higher rate than nonindigenous Australians. Renal transplantation is the preferred treatment modality; however, they are underrepresented in the transplanted population. In addition, despite the morbidity and mortality gains demonstrated in other patient groups, it is unclear whether such an advantage is replicated for indigenous Australians. We have sought to identify some of the factors that lead to poorer outcomes within this group of recipients.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective analysis of a cohort of renal transplant recipients (indigenous and nonindigenous) from the Northern Territory of Australia.


RESULTS
Indigenous patients waited longer on dialysis, were more sensitized at the time of transplantation, and the number of human leukocyte antigen mismatches was greater. Overall renal allograft survival is poorer among indigenous Australians (HR 4.13, 2.0-8.5, P<0.0001) with the majority of grafts lost due to recipient death. The most common cause of death was septicemia. Graft loss due to any cause has not been influenced by the absence of full-time specialist staff at major treatment centers. Infection rates are greatly increased in indigenous patients (RR 4.1, 95% CI 3.5-4.7, P<0.0001), in addition to the incidence of rejection (RR 2.5 95% CI 1.8-3.5, P<0.001) and hospitalization (RR 3.9, 95% CI 3.2-4.9, P<0.0001). There is increased steroid exposure among indigenous recipients.


CONCLUSIONS
Indigenous recipients of cadaveric kidney transplants have worse outcomes than nonindigenous recipients, mostly due to increased mortality and morbidity from infective causes.
Rogers
Natasha M
NM
Department of Nephrology, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. natasharogers@internode.on.net
Lawton
Paul D
PD
Jose
Matthew D
MD
D000328:Adult; D002102:Cadaver; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000401:mortality / Q000502:physiology*; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D015876:Northern Territory; D017582:Renal Replacement Therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D014019:Tissue Donors; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014850:Waiting Lists