Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the effects of obesity on postoperative complications and patient and graft survival after kidney transplantation.
Methods: We retrospectively included 506 patients who received a kidney transplant in our center during eleven years. Obesity was defined by a body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2 based on World Health Organization criteria. Using univariate and multivariate analyses, we evaluated the impact of obesity on surgical complications according to the Clavien-Dindo classification up to 30 days after surgery. The impact of obesity on graft and patient survival was assessed using a Cox proportional regression model.
Results: Seventy-one patients were obese (14%), and mean follow-up was 63.1 months (59.7-66.5). By multivariable analysis, obesity was associated with delayed graft function (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.60 [1.31-5.02], P = .004). Obesity was not associated with surgical complications, but cardiovascular history was (HR = 1.68 [1.09-2.99], P = .048). By Cox regression analysis, obesity was significantly associated with a higher risk of graft loss (HR = 1.55 [1.06-2.99], P = .042) but not with patient survival (HR = 1.82 [0.88-3.79], P = .106).
Conclusion: Obesity was associated with delayed graft function and graft loss. However, it was not associated with surgical complications. Kidney transplantation remains the best therapy for obese patients suffering from end-stage renal disease, despite shorter graft survival.
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