High-Resource Users among Renal Transplant Recipients

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) represents a significant global epidemiological challenge, demanding considerable financial resources for treatment. Renal transplantation is the optimal approach for end-stage renal failure, being the most cost-effective option among renal replacement therapies. This narrative review aims to explore clinical conditions associated with excessive healthcare costs among renal transplant recipients, particularly focusing on high-resource users (HRU). We reviewed literature examining conditions generating high costs in kidney transplant patients, including infections, sepsis, pneumonia, antibody-mediated rejection (AMR), graft failure, advanced recipient age, heart failure, and fractures. Immunosuppressive therapies heighten the risk of infections, with sepsis and pneumonia posing significant costs. AMR is a major contributor to healthcare costs, but effective treatment of AMR can extend graft longevity and improve patient outcomes. Graft failure significantly increases medical expenses and adversely affects patient outcomes. Older recipients face higher post-transplant morbidity and mortality rates, though transplantation still offers better long-term survival compared to dialysis. Heart failure and fractures further elevate post-transplant costs and underscore the necessity of targeted interventions to mitigate associated risks. Ensuring kidney transplant care is sustainable and accessible requires a comprehensive strategy. This approach aims to improve patient outcomes while keeping costs reasonable.