Return to work after deceased donor kidney transplant under the kidney allocation system

Background The Kidney Allocation System (KAS) includes a scoring system to match transplant candidate life expectancy with expected longevity of the donor kidney, and a backdating policy that gives waitlist time credit to patients waitlisted after starting dialysis treatment (post-dialysis). We estimated the effect of the KAS on employment among patient subgroups targeted by the policy. Methods We used a sample selection model to compare employment after transplant before and after KAS implementation among patients on the kidney-only transplant waitlist between December 4, 2011 and December 31, 2017. Results Post-dialysis transplant recipients aged 18-49 were significantly more likely to be employed 1-year post transplant in the post-KAS era compared to the pre-KAS era. Transplant recipients aged 35-64 with no dialysis treatment were significantly less likely to be employed 1 year after transplant in the post-KAS era compared to the pre-KAS era. Conclusions This study provides the first assessment of employment after DDKT under the KAS and provides important information about both the methods used to measure employment after transplant and the outcome under the KAS. Changes in employment after DDKT among various patient subgroups have important implications for assessing long-term patient and societal effects of the KAS and organ allocation policy.

Automated summary

The Kidney Allocation System (KAS) has had differing effects on employment outcomes for different patient subgroups, with post-dialysis transplant recipients aged 18-49 more likely to be employed 1 year post-transplant in the post-KAS era, while transplant recipients aged 35-64 with no dialysis treatment were less likely to be employed 1 year after transplant in the post-KAS era compared to pre-KAS era.