Role of socioeconomic conditions on outcome in kidney transplant recipients

INTRODUCTION: While deaths with a functioning graft have occurred more frequently in recent years, other nonimmunologic factors may have an important role in late allograft loss. These variables include socioeconomic and cultural status as risk factors for posttransplantation noncompliance with therapy. We examined the effect of socioeconomic and cultural status on graft and patient survival in a population of kidney transplant recipients.PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 223 kidney transplantations performed between September 2000 and December 2006.RESULTS: A significant improvement in graft and recipient survival was observed with increased educational achievement level. Subjects with a high school diploma or college degree demonstrated significantly better outcome. Recipients who had attended intermediate or technical schools were also significantly more likely to have a better outcome than the lowest educational group. Using the lowest socioeconomic class as a reference, a proportional hazard model demonstrated statistically significant benefit for better outcome in patients with skilled occupations.CONCLUSIONS: Results of the present study showed a significant difference in kidney transplantation outcome between different socioeconomic and educational classes. These results could help physicians to educate patients with end-stage renal disease to better understand long-term recovery after transplantation.