Expanding geographic sharing of donor kidneys would increase transplants, study finds

Expanding geographic sharing of donor kidneys would increase transplants, study finds

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Health & Medicine Week -- LAWRENCE -- Broadening the geographic range that a number of deceased-donor kidneys would be available would increase the number of transplants and improve the lives of patients unlikely to receive one based on where they live, according to study that includes a University of Kansas researcher.

“The problem is there is a big disparity across different geographies,” said Mazhar Arikan, associate professor of supply chain management in the School of Business. “In more congested or populous regions, the patients have a longer wait time. In the less-congested regions, you don’t need to wait as long. Where you are located is very important in terms of how long you’re going to wait for your kidney.”

Arikan is co-author of the study published in the journal Production and Operations Management. Based on their analysis, the researchers suggest that changing how so-called lower quality kidneys are allocated geographically could result in anywhere from 58 additional to 174 additional kidney transplants per year to help more patients get off dialysis treatments and live more normal lives.

“That is a very high number because it is the equivalent of adding …

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(2017-12-01), Expanding geographic sharing of donor kidneys would increase transplants, study finds, Health & Medicine Week, 1931, ISSN: 1532-4605, BUTTER® ID: 014774120