title: Impact of patient characteristics and comorbidity profile on activation of patients on the kidney transplantation waiting list.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to examine which demographic and comorbidity factors affected the activation of patients with end-stage renal disease on the national kidney transplantation waiting list.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective cohort study across 13 transplantation centers in the United Kingdom from October 1, 2006 to September 30, 2007. Data were collected for all new adult patients (n = 1530) referred to the renal transplantation assessment clinic. The proportion of patients who were activated to the waiting list after a minimum one year follow-up was estimated. Factors influencing activation of patients on the waiting list were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 872 (58.9%) patients were activated to the transplantation waiting list. The likelihood of activation to the transplantation waiting list was lower in patients older than 65 years (P = .021), nonwhite ethnicity (P < .0001), smokers (P < .0001), and those in whom diabetes was the cause of renal failure (P = .004). Multivariate analysis showed that there was an adverse impact of comorbidity such as ischemic heart disease (P = .003), diabetes (P = .006), and peripheral vascular disease (P = .007) on the likelihood of activation to the waiting list.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patient characteristics and comorbidity are associated with the probability of activation of patients to the waiting list.
authors: Transplant Unit, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Old Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Akolekar
authors: J L R
authors: JL
authors: Forsythe
authors: G C
authors: GC
authors: Oniscu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D018579:Patient Selection; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014850:Waiting Lists; D055815:Young Adult