Psychosocial characteristics of potential and actual living kidney donors

• Published in: BMC nephrology Vol. 25; no. 1; pp. 31 - 8
• Main Authors: Cholin, Liza K, Ramos, Everly F, Yahr, Jordana, Schold, Jesse D, Poggio, Emilio D, Delvalle, Christina L, Huml, Anne M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 24-01-2024; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Altruism; Blood & organ donations; Candidates; Decision making; Donation of organs, tissues, etc; Drug use; Education; Health aspects; Kidney donor evaluation; Kidneys; Living donor; Mental disorders; Mental health; Methods; Multivariate analysis; Organ donors; Psychological aspects; Psychoscocial risk; Regression analysis; Risk factors; Social aspects; Social support; Transplantation; Transplants & implants; United States; Kidney donor evaluation; Living donor; Psychoscocial risk
• ISSN: 1471-2369; 1471-2369
• DOI: 10.1186/s12882-023-03375-z

The psychosocial assessment is an essential component of the living kidney donor (LKD) evaluation. However, it remains uncertain how specific psychosocial factors impact LKD eligibility. We performed a retrospective chart review of LKD candidates who initiated the evaluation process and who had completed a required, in-person licensed social work (LSW) visit. LSW notes were reviewed for frequency of psychosocial factors that may impact the success of LKD candidate approval by the selection committee. 325 LKD candidates were included in the study: 104 not-approved and 221 approved. Not-approved LKD candidates were more likely to receive a negative family reaction to wanting to donate than approved LKD candidates (8.7% vs 1.4%, p < 0.01). On multivariate analysis, Black race, history of psychiatric illness, highest level of education being high school, and high psychosocial risk score assignment were all associated with a lower odds ratio of being approved. The majority of not-approved LKD candidates were disqualified for medical reasons (N = 76, 73.1%). In conclusion, psychosocial factors impact donation even after LKD candidates make it to an in-person evaluation.