#165 Substantial variation in the evaluation of kidney transplant recipient candidates prior to waitlisting: a worldwide scoping review
Authors: Boerstra Brittany , Pippias Maria , Kramer Anneke , Dirix Marie , Daams Joost , Jager Kitty J , Hellemans Rachel , Stel Vianda 
Published: May 2024

Background and Aims

Before patients with end stage kidney disease can undergo kidney transplantation, their suitability is assessed through a transplantation work-up. Several international guidelines have outlined the most important factors in determining patient suitability for kidney transplantation, but there is little agreement among them and it is unclear whether their recommendations have been adopted into clinical practice. Variation in the evaluation of kidney transplant recipient candidates could contribute to inefficiency and inequality in accessing the transplant waiting list and kidney transplantation. Therefore, the standardization of pre-waitlisting practice patterns is desirable and in line with recommendations from Europe [1] and the US [2].

An overview of publications on pre-waitlisting practices for kidney transplantation is needed to increase the transparency of kidney transplant recipient candidacy evaluation and is a first step towards the standardization of pre-waitlisting procedures. To date, such an overview has not been performed. Therefore, our aim was to conduct a scoping review on the evaluation of kidney transplant recipient candidates prior to waitlisting, investigating: (a) the content of the transplantation work-up; (b) contraindications to waitlisting; and (c) the organization of the transplantation work-up.

Method

A systematic search was conducted in Ovid Medline and Ovid EMBASE in collaboration with a medical information specialist. Studies reporting practice patterns on the evaluation of adults receiving their first kidney graft from a deceased donor were included. Studies were excluded if they only reported: on pediatric patients; from the perspective of the patients; practice patterns following waitlisting; COVID-19-related changes to practice patterns; and results from novelty screening methods used to evaluate kidney transplant recipient candidates without evidence that these methods were also used in clinical practice.

Results

Results from 40 studies were summarized, of which a majority were conducted in Europe (n = 11) and the US (n = 21). The content of the transplantation work-up varied widely between studied centers. Results show that the presence of a written transplantation work-up was common in the US, UK, and Norway, while in other countries, the presence of a written transplantation work-up protocol was not reported. Common domains within the transplantation work-up included screening for infections, heart disease, peripheral artery disease, and malignancy. A wide range of contraindications to waitlisting were reported. The criteria for contraindications related to obesity and age/frailty varied between studied centers and appear to have changed over time. In general, the organization of the transplantation work-up (e.g. the referral process, the transplant care team, and the use of multidisciplinary meetings) was comparable across studied centers, but differences were observed in the way the transplantation work-up was carried out.

Conclusion

This is the first review summarizing practice patterns related to the evaluation of kidney transplant recipient candidates prior to waitlisting. Results showed substantial variation in the evaluation of kidney transplant recipient candidates and pre-waitlisting practice patterns globally. These findings contribute to increasing the transparency of pre-waitlisting practice patterns, as was endorse by EU and US recommendations. In turn, this may aid in standardizing criteria used to evaluate kidney transplant recipient candidates prior to waitlisting, which could improve kidney transplantation access and outcomes.