Individuals who received a solid organ transplant in the United States were followed up annually for assessment of their health status. These data were recorded in the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR). All analyses presented are limited to adults aged 20 years or older, at the time of their first organ transplant. These data are nationally-representative of the first-time, solid-organ transplant population with less than 5% lacking information on kidney function.

Diabetes status (type 1 or 2) and hypertension status are as listed at the time of transplant. For all transplant recipients, use of calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) to prevent transplant rejection is presented as many of these medications have been shown to be nephrotoxic¹. The recording of data in the SRTR pertaining to CKD/kidney function varied by organ type and is discussed below.

Thoracic transplant (heart, lung, and combined heart and lung) recipients did not have a serum creatinine measurement reported but rather a yes/no “renal dysfunction” indicator at follow-up. Information on treatment for ESRD (through dialysis or kidney transplant) is provided for thoracic transplant recipients (all patients treated for ESRD are necessarily indicated to have “renal dysfunction,” but an individual with “renal dysfunction” may or may not have been treated for ESRD). A thoracic transplant patient was defined as having “renal dysfunction” if the patient was reported as such. We have therefore retained the terminology “renal dysfunction” as opposed to “CKD” for this section of the website.

¹Ojo AO. Renal disease in recipients of nonrenal solid organ transplantation. Semin Nephrol.2007;27(4):498-507.