Comparable kidney transplant outcomes in selected patients with a body mass index ≥ 40: A personalized medicine approach to recipient selection

IntroductionMany kidney transplant (KT) centers decline patients with a body mass index (BMI) >= 40 kg/m(2). This study's aim was to evaluate KT outcomes according to recipient BMI. MethodsWe performed a single-center, retrospective review of adult KTs comparing BMI >= 40 patients (n = 84, BMI = 42 +/- 2 kg/m(2)) to a matched BMI < 40 cohort (n = 84, BMI = 28 +/- 5 kg/m(2)). Patients were matched for age, gender, race, diabetes, and donor type. ResultsBMI >= 40 patients were on dialysis longer (5.2 +/- 3.2 years vs. 4.1 +/- 3.5 years, p = .03) and received lower kidney donor profile index (KDPI) kidneys (40 +/- 25% vs. 53 +/- 26%, p = .003). There were no significant differences in prevalence of delayed graft function, reoperations, readmissions, wound complications, patient survival, or renal function at 1 year. Long-term graft survival was higher for BMI >= 40 patients, including after adjusting for KDPI (BMI >= 40: aHR = 1.79, 95% CI = 1.09-2.9). BMI >= 40 patients had similar BMI change in the first year post-transplant (delta BMI: BMI >= 40 +.9 +/- 3.3 vs. BMI < 40 +1.1 +/- 3.2, p = .59). ConclusionsOverall outcomes after KT were comparable in BMI >= 40 patients compared to a matched cohort with lower BMI with improved long-term graft survival in obese patients. BMI-based exclusion criteria for KT should be reexamined in favor of a more individualized approach.