Increased Post-Kidney Transplant Risks Associated with BMI-BSA Obesity

Recent research indicates that obesity defined through combined body mass index (BMI) and body surface area (BSA) metrics significantly elevates the risk of adverse outcomes following kidney transplantation. A comprehensive study analyzing data from over 242,000 adult kidney transplant recipients across the United States found that patients categorized as obese by both BMI and BSA exhibited notably higher risks of graft loss, delayed graft function, and overall mortality. Specifically, the adjusted hazard ratios pointed to a 23% increased risk of death-censored graft loss, 9% higher for all-cause graft loss, and 58% greater likelihood of delayed graft function when obesity was confirmed by both measures. Interestingly, patients with discordant BMI and BSA obesity classifications demonstrated a lower risk profile compared to those classified as obese by both metrics. These findings suggest that combining BMI and BSA assessments provides a more accurate prediction of post-transplant risks and should guide clinical evaluation for transplantation candidates. This study underscores the importance of precise obesity evaluation in transplant planning to improve patient outcomes.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-kidney-transplant-adverse-outcomes-bmi.html