Vnitr Lek 2025, 71(4):E8-E13 | DOI: 10.36290/vnl.2025.048

Kidney transplantation outcomes of racial minority groups in a Central European setting: a retrospective cohort study

Zuzana Pichová¹, Ivan Zahrádka¹, István Módos², Filip Tichánek², Věra Kočová³, Ondřej Viklický¹

¹ Klinika nefrologie, Institut klinické a experimentální medicíny, Praha

² Oddělení elektronických informačních zdrojů a datové vědy OI, Institut klinické a experimentální medicíny, Praha

³ Úsek léčebně preventivní péče ÚLP, Institut klinické a experimentální medicíny, Praha

Background and Aims: It has been previously reported that Caucasian population has different kidney transplantation outcomes compared to other racial groups. Data from the Czech Republic are lacking.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we analysed 2315 kidney transplant recipients between years 2014-2024 and identified 24 ethnic minority patients (Asians n=20, African Europeans n=4). A control group consisting of Caucasian population was established by propensity score matching in a 3:1 ratio. The primary endpoint was a composite of poor graft function, graft failure, rejection and all-cause mortality at 1- and 5-years post-transplant. Secondary outcomes were individual components of primary endpoint, eGFR at 1- year post-transplant and incidence of delayed graft function. Furthermore, we compared the differences in time on dialysis and on the waiting list prior to transplantation and time from starting dialysis to being wait-listed between the groups.

Results: There was no difference in the incidence of primary composite endpoint between the racial minority group (RMG) and the Caucasian control group (CCG) at 1-year (16,7 % vs. 19,4 %, resp.; p=0,84) and 5-years post-transplant (20,8 % vs. 26,4%, resp.; p=0,751). There was also no difference in the incidence of secondary outcomes. However, we found that the RMG spent longer time on dialysis before being wait-listed compared to the CCG (median 1,2 years [IQR 0.9-1.9] vs. 0,8 years [IQR 0.26-1.64], resp.; p=0,030). Furthermore, there was also an evident trend towards longer time on dialysis prior to transplantation in the RMG compared to the CCG (median 2,4 years IQR [1.4-4.3] vs. 1,75 years [IQR 0.74-3.3], resp.; p=0,051) and on the waiting list prior to transplantation (median 1,2 years IQR [0.34-2.7] in RMG vs. median 0,56 years IQR [0.16-1.56] in CCG; p=0,094).

Conclusion: In this study, kidney transplant outcomes were similar between the groups. However, racial minority groups are still disadvantaged by longer time on dialysis before reaching transplantation.

Keywords: dialysis, human race, kidney transplantation, waiting list.

Accepted: June 3, 2025; Published: June 19, 2025  Show citation