Study Finds Increased Use Of Acceptable Donor Kidneys Could Save Hundreds And Reduce Costs
USA: A simulation study from the University of Minnesota highlights a stark inefficiency in U.S. kidney transplantation: more than 71,000 people were on the waiting list in 2022 while roughly one in four donated kidneys are never used. Researchers focused on kidneys labeled “acceptable” but often declined because they don’t match an ideal donor profile, such as older age or a history of hypertension or diabetes.
Using a model of 100,000 older adults on the transplant waiting list, the team tested scenarios raising acceptance of these kidneys. The results suggest that increasing utilization by just 25% could prevent about 141 deaths per 10,000 patients on the list, converting otherwise unused organs into lifesaving transplants for many who wait years for a match.
The study also found the strategy is highly cost-effective. Each additional quality-adjusted life year gained by broader use of acceptable kidneys was estimated at about $8,100, and when accounting for patient and caregiver time spent in the system the approach produced an average saving of roughly $10,200 per patient. Those figures indicate both clinical and economic gains from changing practice patterns.
Authors urge transplant centers and policymakers to re-evaluate risk-averse habits and guidelines that favor perfection over pragmatism, particularly for older candidates who may prefer quicker transplantation. The research frames a clear policy choice: adapt allocation and acceptance practices to turn currently discarded kidneys into more lives saved and health-system savings.
Video originally published on 2026-03-26 14:04:56
