Impact of having potential living donors on ethnic/racial disparities in access to kidney transplantation

Racial/ethnic disparities persist in patients' access to living donor kidney transplantation (LDKT). This study assessed the impact of having available potential living donors (PLDs) on candidates' receipt of a kidney transplant (KT) and LDKT at two KT programs. Using data from our clinical trial of waitlisted candidates (January 1, 2014–December 31, 2019), we evaluated Hispanic and Non‐Hispanic White (NHW) KT candidates' number of PLDs. Multivariable logistic regression assessed the impact of PLDs on transplantation (KT vs. no KT; for KT recipients, LDKT vs. deceased donor KT). A total of 847 candidates were included, identifying as Hispanic (45.8%) or NHW (54.2%). For Site A, both Hispanic (adjusted OR = 2.26 [95% CI 1.13–4.53]) and NHW (OR = 2.42 [1.10–5.33]) candidates with PLDs completing the questionnaire were more likely to receive a KT. For Site B, candidates with PLDs were not significantly more likely to receive KT. Among KT recipients at both sites, Hispanic (Site A: OR = 21.22 [2.44–184.88]; Site B: OR = 25.54 [7.52–101.54]), and NHW (Site A: OR = 37.70 [6.59–215.67]; Site B: OR = 15.18 [5.64–40.85]) recipients with PLD(s) were significantly more likely to receive a LDKT. Our findings suggest that PLDs increased candidates' likelihood of KT receipt, particularly LDKT. Transplant programs should help candidates identify PLDs early in transplant evaluation.