
Dr. Joel T. Adler, Editorial Fellow, Transplantation
Perceptions, Barriers, and Experiences With Successful Aging Before and After Kidney Transplantation: A Focus Group Study
Van Pilsum Rasmussen SE, Warsame F, Eno AK, et al.
Transplantation: March 2020 - Volume 104 - Issue 3 - p 603-612
“Successful aging” is a broad concept, encompassing a multidimensional construct of physical and social wellbeing. As patients with end-stage kidney disease now live longer, there is increased attention toward how “successful aging” and kidney transplantation intertwine.
In a qualitative study of 39 patients (19 transplant candidates and 20 transplant recipients), Van Pilsum Rasmussen and colleagues found a number of important themes. Candidates for transplantation struggled with the limitations of dialysis and viewed transplantation as an opportunity to age successfully, while many transplant recipients recognized their ability to age successfully after transplant.
Realizing that this gap may be mediated by transplant itself, this manuscript demonstrates an important opportunity for education and resource allocation in the care of an aging population. Overall, this qualitative study emphasizes the need for good clinician-caregiver discussions regarding successful aging and overall quality of life.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW