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. 2025 Nov 12;26(1):633.
doi: 10.1186/s12882-025-04540-2.

Impact of delayed graft function on overall and graft survival in recipients of deceased donor kidney transplants

María Andrea Negret  1   2 , Martha Patricia Rodriguez  3   4 , Cándida Díaz-Brochero  3   4   5 , Santiago Abril  3 , Santiago Grillo  3   4 , Paola Garcia-Padilla  3   4
Affiliations

Impact of delayed graft function on overall and graft survival in recipients of deceased donor kidney transplants

María Andrea Negret et al. BMC Nephrol. .

Abstract

Delayed graft function (DGF) is a frequent complication among recipients of deceased donor kidney transplants, with an incidence rate ranging from 20% to 50%. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of DGF on both graft and overall patient survival. In a retrospective cohort of 293 patients who underwent transplantation between 2007 and 2021, demographic, clinical, and long-term follow-up data were analyzed. Patients with DGF had a significantly lower 5-year graft survival rate than did those without DGF (log-rank test: p = 0.004; DGF: 80.0%, 95% CI: 70.0% − 91.0% vs. no DGF: 92.0%, 95% CI: 89.2% − 95.9%); nevertheless, without significant differences over 10 years (log-rank test: p = 0.098; DGF: 80.0%, 95% CI: 70.0% − 91.0% vs. no DGF: 87.9%, 95% CI: 83.8% − 92.1%). Regarding the overall survival, no significant differences were observed over 5 years (log-rank test: p = 0.9; DGF: 92.7%, 95% CI: 86.1% − 99.0% vs. no DGF: 92.0%, 95% CI: 89%-96%) or at 10 years (log-rank test: p = 0.81; DGF: 89.1%, 95% CI: 81.2%-97.7% vs. no DGF: 87.9%, 95% CI: 83.8%-92.1%). Multivariate analysis indicated that DGF was not associated with an increased risk of graft loss or reduced recipient survival. These findings underscore the need for larger, prospective studies to further elucidate the long-term implications of DGF and outline clinical management strategies for kidney transplant recipients.

Clinical trial number Not applicable

Keywords: Delayed graft function; Graft loss; Kidney transplants; Overall survival.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The study protocol was approved by the Research and Ethics Committee of Pontificia Universidad Javeriana and Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Bogotá (act number: 19/2023). The study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Study flowchart
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Kaplan Meier curves of graft survival censored by death at 10 years of follow-up
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Kaplan Meier curves overall survival analysis at 10 years of follow-up
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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