Effect of age on the outcome of renal transplantation: A single-center experience

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the effects of old age on renal transplantation (Tx) results and graft survival, and compared elderly patient population with the young patients. METHODS: A total of 1946 renal transplant were performed from 1537 living and 409 cadaveric donors between 2003 and 2014. The recipients were divided into two groups according to their age at the time of transplantation. The young age group consisted of 18-59-year-old, and the elderly group consisted of the ones ≥ 60 years. RESULTS: Acute rejection was seen in 19.5% of the young age group while this rate was 16.7% in the old age group (p=0.535). DGF was seen in 6.3% of the young age group, and in 13.5% of the old age group (p<0.001). Analysis of the overall survival rates demonstrated that 1.6% of the patients in the young age group and 6.8% of the patients in the old age groups died (p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Renal transplant had high graft survival rates in the elderly as in the young patients. However, the risks for complications were higher in the older age group compared to the younger age group. Thus, it is important to make a careful selection among elderly candidates for renal transplantation.