Outcome of donor kidney function in living-related kidney transplant: observation from a single centre with 18 year experience in Malaysia.

PURPOSE

Living donor kidney transplantation is a critical strategy to address the growing burden of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in Malaysia. Whilst living donation is generally safe, concerns remain regarding long-term donor outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate renal function and morbidity changes in living kidney donors 1 year post-donation, and to identify predictors of impaired kidney function.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted using clinical records of 230 living kidney donors who underwent nephrectomy at University Malaya Medical Centre between 2003 and 2021. Donor sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were assessed pre-donation and at 1 year post-donation. Impaired kidney function was defined as eGFR < 90 mL/min/1.73m. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

At 1 year post-donation, 76.2% of donors exhibited impaired kidney function. Additionally, the proportion of donors with diabetes and dyslipidaemia increased significantly post-donation. Male sex and increasing age were significant predictors of reduced eGFR. Ethnic Chinese and 'Others' ethnicities were found to have a lower risk of impaired renal function compared to Malays. No significant association was found between baseline comorbidity status and post-donation eGFR.

CONCLUSION

The study highlights the importance of age, gender, and ethnicity in predicting renal outcomes post-donation. These findings underscore the need for standardised pre-donation screening and structured post-donation surveillance. Strengthening clinical protocols and policy frameworks is essential to ensure donor safety and the sustainability of living donor transplantation in Malaysia.