AUTHOR=Chirban Ariana , del Valle Diana D. , Coe Taylor , Cote Maria P. , Chen Maggie , Cataldo Jennie , Elias Nahel , Shah Anushi , Dageforde Leigh Anne 

TITLE=Elements of Weight Management Among Pre-Kidney Transplant Candidates: The Patient Perspective

JOURNAL=Transplant International

VOLUME=Volume 37 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontierspartnerships.org/journals/transplant-international/articles/10.3389/ti.2024.12735

DOI=10.3389/ti.2024.12735

ISSN=1432-2277

ABSTRACT=While nutrition counseling and health resources are often available for pre-transplant patients, limited literature has been reported on patients’ perception of their weight and motivation to lose weight prior to transplant.

A survey was distributed to patients (≥18yrs) on the kidney transplant waitlist at a single center. Demographic and clinical data were extracted from medical records. Quantitative data was tested using Mann-Whitney U test and logistic regression analyses. Categorical variables were evaluated utilizing Fisher’s exact or Pearson’s chi-squared tests. Free-text responses were examined with descriptive statistics.

Of 1055 patients contacted, 27.6% responded and could be matched with corresponding demographic data. Perception of weight change while on the waitlist accurately reflected actual change in BMI (p<0.01). Of those who perceived weight gain while on the waitlist, 75.0% were considering weight loss within the next six months, which was significantly higher than those who perceived weight loss, no change, or fluctuation (39.1%) (p<0.001). While most patients were not interested in weight center resources, patients with a BMI>24.9 were more likely to express openness (p<0.001). 

The findings suggest that pre-kidney transplant patients are aware of weight changes and interested in seeking out resources for weight loss, and motivated to lose weight.