Donor kidneys more likely to be discarded on weekends

Deceased donor kidneys procured during the weekend are more likely to be discarded than kidneys procured during the rest of the week, according to data recently presented at ASN Kidney Week 2015.

Sumit Mohan, MD, department of medicine at Columbia University, and colleagues used data from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients to analyze organ utilization patterns throughout the week.

Results demonstrated that the weekend, specifically the time period of Friday to Saturday, was associated with lower kidney procurement (89.5% vs 90.2%; P < .001), older procured kidneys (39.7 ± 17.7 vs. 39.1 ± 17.6; P < .001) and lower quality (Kidney Donor Risk Index [KDRI] 1.33 ± 0.49 vs. 1.31 ± 0.49; P < .001), compared with kidneys procured during the week. Friday-to-Saturday deceased donor kidneys were also more likely to be discarded (18.6% vs. 16.4%; P < .001) and were of higher quality than kidneys discarded during the week (KDRI 1.82 ± 0.57 vs. 1.84 ± 0.56; P = .018). Friday-to-Saturday deceased donor kidneys were 20% more likely to be discarded than kidneys procured during the week after adjusting for KDRI (OR = 1.2; P < .001).

Additionally, Mohan reported that Friday-to-Saturday deceased donor kidneys were more likely to be transplanted at a large transplant center.

"The day of the week when a donor kidney becomes available appears to impact the likelihood of procurement and its subsequent utilization, if procured," Mohan said in a press release. "Deceased donor kidneys that would normally be transplanted over the weekend are less likely to be procured and if procured appear less likely to be transplanted even after adjusting for the quality of the kidney.

"Recognition of the impact of factors beyond organ quality on the procurement and transplantation of deceased donor organs should influence future policy aimed at improving kidney transplantation rates in the United States," Mohan said. – by Chelsea Frajerman Pardes

Reference:

Mohan S, et al. Discard of Deceased Donor Kidneys in the United States: The Weekend Effect. Abstract SA-PO1030. Presented at: ASN Kidney Week 2015; Nov. 3-8, 2015; San Diego, CA.

Disclosures: Sumit Mohan reports receiving research funding from Pfizer, Gambro. Please see abstract for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.