title: UK Renal Registry 16th annual report: chapter 4 demography of patients waitlisted for renal transplantation in the UK: national and centre-specific analyses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  For suitable patients, renal transplantation is considered the optimal modality of renal replacement therapy, with availability of donor organs limiting the number of transplants undertaken. The 2006 kidney allocation policy was developed to ensure equity of allocation to patients on the transplant waiting list, whilst still achieving a good donor/recipient match. This study aims to describe the characteristics of the kidney transplant waiting list and variations in median waiting times.
  
  
  METHODS
  Demographics and clinical characteristics of all patients listed for a kidney only transplant in the UK on 1st January 2011 were examined. Renal unit variations were explored. Patients listed between January 2006 and December 2009 were included in analysis of waiting times to transplant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the beginning of 2011, there were 6,699 patients registered active for kidney only transplant in UK; a prevalence rate of 107 pmp. The median age of prevalent listed patients was 53 years, with 8% aged 70 or above. Of the patients listed, 84% had started renal replacement therapy (RRT), 59% were male, 28% were from ethnic minorities, 50% had blood group type O, 28% were defined as difficult to HLA match and 23% were highly sensitised (calculated HLA antibody reaction frequency 85%). Median waiting time to transplant was 38 months. Waiting time was shorter for White patients (36 months) compared to Asian or Black patients (46 months), and was doubled in highly sensitised compared to un-sensitised patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intercentre variation was observed in the rate of wait-listing and in the proportion of listed patients across different ethnic groups, age, blood groups and level of sensitisation. This may reflect differences in baseline population characteristics as well as individual centre practice patterns. Median waiting times differ significantly across blood groups, degree of sensitisation and ethnic group.
authors.affiliation: UK Renal Registry, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Rishi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pruthi
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hilton
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pankhurst
authors.forename: Nizam
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mamode
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hudson
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roderick
authors.forename: Rommel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ravanan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000847:Annual Reports as Topic; D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D002391:Catchment Area, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000208:ethnology / Q000601:surgery*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013222:State Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014850:Waiting Lists; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D006680:HLA Antigens