University of Bristol and North Bristol NHS Trust

ILD129

Kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for most people with kidney failure. However, transplants do not work forever: a kidney transplant is described as failing if the function is declining and the person will require an alternative treatment (e.g., dialysis) within 12 months. Kidney transplant failure is not recognised as early as it should be. We don't know very much about how patients with failing or failed transplants are being supported in UK kidney units, and we don't know what best practice for these patients looks like. We have undertaken a survey of practice in the UK which showed significant differences in the ways that patients are supported at different kidney centres. In this project, we will investigate the management and outcomes of people with failing kidney transplants. We will analyse data on people with kidney transplants. We will compare with people who have not had a transplant. We will investigate whether individual characteristics including sex, age, ethnicity, and socioeconomic disadvantage are associated with access to care (e.g., transplant listing) and outcomes following transplant failure. We will combine findings from this study with findings from our previous survey to investigate whether different management at different centres affects the patients' outcomes. It will identify any variation in practice and outcomes that might suggest a best practice and that could justify a clinical trial.

25/09/2023